Shifting Spheres of Influence

A/N inspiration for this must be credited to one of my best mates Jacqui-san, arigato for your friendship and new found love!!!!

Enjoy.....

“In order to go one step forward, two steps backwards must be taken”
Anonymous

Chapter 3: Butterflies and Bruises

500 yeas in the past, A hilltop, Western Border


Breathing in the night air, he gazed out at the moon, almost reaching its zenith in the night’s sky as it followed its celestial path along the heavens. Its path highlighted and magnified by the millions of stars that shone and twinkled in its passing wake. Yes, tonight truly was a beautiful night. The air just as refreshing as the beauty of darkened hemisphere. From his perch atop the mountainous rock, he looked out at the Western lands, away from all the hubbub of the castle, teaming with youkai and human alike in the efforts to tolerate one another in the honour of the Alliance, he needed to get away, from the smell that was driving his senses into a frenzy, from the constant noise that drummed in his ears and just from the duty that bound the crescent shaped marking of his status on his forehead. Yes, he needed to get away and so he did, sliding back the doors to his quarters, opening onto the lily gardens of the eastern wing, sparing one final glance at the palace, he took to the skies, only to come right back to the open doors, colleting a bundle of snoozing arms and legs in his arms, letting out a frustrated sigh, he then, once again, took to the skies and after a few hours of travelling, he found himself where he is now, perched atop a mountainous outcrop, overlooking the one of the vast valleys of the western lands.

Sighing at the beauty of the night, his gaze drifted to the bundle that was curled up in a ball surrounded by his momoko-sama, the snoozing girl somehow managed to snuggle into the warmth and fall into a deep slumber, unaware of the loss of warmth she felt from being removed from the Western Lords arms. His eyes softened as he took in her features, peace surrounded her form, encompassing her in her aura, seen blissfully on her face. A thought lingered along the western Lords mind.


‘She truly is an amazing enigma’


Movement caught the corner of the Lords eye, shifting his gaze once more; he took in the small creature as it fluttered a very wobbly path between him and the small girl.


‘Moon kochou...’


The butterfly, struggling with the art of flight preceded to land on the very petite nose of the snoozing girl, fluttering its silvery-blue wings, tickling the girls skin, her nose scrunched at the offended touch, giggling at the action and slowly, Sesshomaru watched as two cerulean orbs blinked into focus and came to land on the creature that plagued the girl from sleep. Giving the demon lord a very silly face of cross-eyes and a brow knitted together in confusion, a small chuckled left the chest of the demon lord, drawing her attention to his presence.


He looked ethereal against the silver moon that hung in the midnight air, a gentle breeze sweeping past her, brushing her bangs against her face, caught the lords platinum locks and caused his hamaka and silvery hair to billow around him in a gentle movement that contradicted the deadly claws that lay hidden in the billowing sleeves.


Brought out of her musings, the creature fluttered in the gentle breeze, looking back down her nose, the demon lord spoke to her, answering her question she had yet to ask.


“Moon Butterflies, they come out in the height of spring, during the full moon, to spread their wings in a hopes to find a mate and reproduce before the night is over...”


Striding over to Kagome, who by now had removed the momoko-sama from around her and sat up, the butterfly still on her nose, watched the approaching Lord with fascination.


“But this one’s fate is not as fortunate...”


Raising his clawed hand, he gently removed the butterfly from her nose and both watched as it moved to a more comfortable position on the clawed hand, fluttering its wings in a shimmering effect of the moon beams against the silver of the winged creature.


Inclining her head to the side, Kagome looked deep in thought before addressing the Lord.


“I beg to differ, this one has merely hatched from its chrysalis and is still learning the weight of its wings to master the art of flight, yet given time, fate shall show this creature good fortune.”

Looking up at the Lord for his reaction, surprise graced his face, for a second, before he replied to her wisdom.

“This may be true, yet I have the power to crush the creature right now, ending its life and its good fortune, and even if this Sesshomaru did let the creature survive and learn flight, what makes you so certain that fortune shall be with this creature and that it will reproduce on this night?”


Smiling gently at his reaction, she replied drawing from some unknown source of wisdom buried inside of her mind


“One would hope that Milord would not be so cruel as to end the life of this pitiful creature, but rather have the belief and hope that by giving it the chance to learn that it will grow and developed into one of magnitude and beauty, far surpassing that of the others who have not struggled so. It is this belief and hope in the creature that will give it strength to learn and reproduce, giving life to more generations of moon butterflies.”


“And all this coming from one choice in giving the butterfly a chance at life?”


Aghast by the wisdom of the young women, a gentle smile much like the one on the miko’s face graced his lips as he watched her take the butterfly from his claw and walk to the edge of the cliff and in one smooth movement, lifted her arm towards the heavens as a gentle breeze blew up towards the women and lifted the small creature from her finger into the sky, which fluttered a bit a first, then gaining momentum, soared into the valley below, both watching its decent.


“Indeed milord, things aren’t always as the first appear to be, and beauty can often be found in the simplicity of a simple act of kindness.”


Walking over to her small form, he sighed at the women in front of him.


“Yet the creature will only live for the extent of the night, would you not consider it a waste?”


Frowning at his logic, she replied


“It may be a waste Milord, to some, but a chance at life, to others.”


“Indeed”


Placing his clawed hand onto her shoulder, she jumped at his touch, before she relaxed, both stood in quiet contemplation before she broke the silence with a question


“Milord, I can’t help but wonder, while the moon kochou has now a chance at life, won’t it be shorter than that of the other butterflies, and therefore, have less of a chance at reproduction?”

It was Sesshomaru’s time to frown at her logic, amused at her innocence that juxtaposed her wisdom; he answered her question with some of his own wisdom

“Some would believe it is how you stated, yet, like you said before, having struggled through the hardship unlike the rest...”

Struggling for the right words he paused, mid sentence before giving her a proverb that echoed her words in all its meaning

“A flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of them all....”

Taking in his words, she closed her eyes and leaned into the winds embrace as it swept up the outcrop, her hand subconsciously reaching out to cover his that was still resting on her shoulder.
The proverb still fresh in his mind, the Taiyoukai watched the small human before him, gently turning the corners of his mouth up as he felt her hand cover his. Both unaware of the bond that was slowly forming between the two, his mind took in her beauty, comparing it to that of the butterflies, and the rarity of the butterflies paralleled the women standing before him, and once again he was struck with the enigmatic being in front of him. He knew she was something out of the ordinary, but what, was a mystery to him...


“Something tells me that you are indeed such a creature, a kochou.”


“Perhaps”


Smiling at the analogy, the she rubbed her upper arms at the chill that had now taken to the air.


“Come let us return”

And in one powerful swoop, the youkai Lord had the small women in his arms as he leapt off the outcrop, heading for the West.

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Present day, Tashio Enterprises, Kagome’s Office

Flustered, she breathed in and counted to ten; working hunched over her desk from about 10 hour straight wasn’t what she had in mind when she told her boss that she would be detained for the rest of the evening. After her rather interesting lunch with Sesshomaru, they had spent the meal chit chatting about small things, light convocation to lighten the mood and she was sure, he was trying to take her mind off of Naraku and her present predicament.


‘MEN, they don’t change, seriously, he’s still trying to protect me from the big bad world and trying to distract me .... silly youkai’


Knowing his intentions were honourable, be them a bit primitive in her state of mind, she complied with the light hearted conversation, that the fact that she had caused quite a scene in his office with his co-workers was enough of a guilt trip to accommodate the chivalrous youkai. Yet, now she found herself seriously doubting that decision as her mind kept wondering about Naraku and his insidious photographer.


‘Why would he take photos of me? Maybe he’s some kind of demented pervert? Na... well it isn’t for a business contract, unless there’s some kind of merger that I don’t know about, but as the head of human relations, I should know.... well there’s always the whole blackmail thing, but that’s just to weird, even for Naraku... maybe he is just some kind of perv...’


Which is why our dear Kagome Higurashi now found herself in front of her lap top, at her office rather than her apartment for said man was sure to have sent his sleazy photographer in to take more of the intimate photos...


‘well what happens if I don’t go home, and the photographer tells Naraku that I wasn’t there, then he will know that I know and that could have consequences, unless he knows that I would know then his motive would be to make me know while he knows that I know about him.... what? !?!?’


“Ugh Higurashi you are just confusing yourself...” Sighing, she flopped rather unceremoniously onto her keyboard, causing a few of the buttons to beep under the weight of her head arms.


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Present Day, Tashio Mansion, Kitchen

“Somewhere in the god forsaken mansion there must be SOME alcohol!!”

The growl like voice echoed off the walls and vibrated in each of the forms of the 3 youkai that sat at the kitchen island hunched over a big bowl of nachos and cheese dip.


“Calm yourself Inuyasha..”


“Don’t you tell me to calm the fuck down, I have had one of the shitties days ever, doing this bastard’s dirty work in detaining that filth of a hanyou from seeing Kagome...”

Inuyasha stated pointing a rather childish finger at his older half brother.


“Well pray tell what did you do to cause such a... dilemma?”


“Nothing, nothing at all.. Well nothing except bug him about some examples of his latest product that were spose to be on the market 2 months ago....”

A slight smirk adorned his lips at his confession.


“Why yes, BUG being the operative word there.... “


“Well its going to take them about a week to figure out what the problem is, let alone fix it, plenty of time to get Kagome out of his reach....”


“Not quite little brother...”

Both eyes turned to he now not so silent Taiyoukai that had been sitting quietly while the others conversed about the days musings.


“What do you mean Sesshomaru?”


“I mean, Kai that there is ample opportunity for Naraku to make his move towards Kagome, with his business suffering or not.”


“Shit”

The emerald eyes of the youkai general glazed over in worry.


“Where is she now?” Inuyasha scanning his older brother for an answer.


“At her office”


“What’s going to happen to her, she can’t go back to her apartment?”


“Hnn”


“Sesshomaru, she is still in grave danger, with Naraku going after her, it means that the others will soon be after her too? The general gazed off into the distance while contemplating the situation.


“Well what can you do then?” the Hanyou asked


“WE are gonna have to tell her, who’s she is then?”


“Oh hell no... I’m definitely going to need a drink....” the hanyou left the huddle over the island and walked out of the kitchen, hell bent on getting some alcohol into his system.


The youkai Lord also wondered off, leaving the general to munch alone on the nachos that were ice cold by now...


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Present day, Tashio Enterprises, Kagome’s Office


A small ringing sounded in her ears.

There is was again.

And again

Suddenly she bolted upright, drool lined the side of her cheek and in pints of the keyboard had welded into her skin, her well placed bun at the back of her head now sat lopsided, with a few pieces of hair falling out of the strategically twirled lock of hair.


‘Must have fallen asleep...’


Snapping out of her daze, she reached for the receiver while wiping the drool off of her cheek.


“Higurashi”

The usual upbeat tone set in place

“Are you still at the office?”

A pregnant pause followed the question, Kagome not recognising the voice on the other side of the phone answered.

“Whom might I ask is calling?” Still ever so polite.

Another pause, the few seconds grating on her nerves, she glanced at her clock

2:00 am

“Why my dear, you don’t know who I am but I sure know you...”


“What do you want?” Panic now setting in, adrenalin now pumping through her system, yet she remained frozen to the spot.

“What I want is for the prophecy to not be for filled...”


She fumbled under her desk and felt about for the red button, pushing it, she flipped her lap top on and a screen popped up that stated

Tracing..... 20 seconds

Still in shock, reason took over her mind as the analyst in her took over, her lessons echoing in her head.

‘Keep them talking...’

“What prophecy?”

Heavy breathing was heard on the other side, Goosebumps ripped a path down her back as the small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

“how do you plan to stop it?”

She tried again, glancing nervously at her computer.


15 seconds


A silent chuckle heard on the other side of the phone

Ten seconds


“By killing you... Kagome of the Bow”


Her blood ran cold, her eyes widened a fraction and her breath caught in her lungs, she had’nt heard that name in a few centauries


4 seconds


“what?” her strangulated vocal chords whimpered into the receiver

2 seconds

Another dark laugh was echoing in her ear

“Turn around”

I second

The line went dead.

Trace failed....


Still holding the receiver, her eyes now darting to all corners of her office, suddenly realising how eerie the office space was, the only light on was in her office, looking out of one of the four glass walls, she saw staggered shadows of office furniture, all basked in an eerie light from the beacon of light that her office offered to the rest of the floor. The words echoing in her head, she began to pivot in her chair, swirling the leather seat around, her hand clutching the receiver of the black phone to her ear, knuckles snow white with the death like grip. Her breathing shallow as her heart beat against her rib cage.


She swivelled, wide eyes scanning the space behind her taking in every shadow..... Nothing.


Letting a breath out, she breathed in once again and closed her eyes in an attempt to slow her beating heart. A small smile playing on her lips at her silly fear.

She opened her eyes again scanning the space one last time, she scoffed at her silliness, she stood from her chair and turned around. Hear heart stopped, there in amongst the office furniture, in amongst the shadows was a figure, she was sure of it, clad in black, she blinked, her pupils dilating as the adrenalin surged once more through her veins, she froze on the form, the figure began to pace slowly towards her office, coming slowly into the light, she scanned the form again until she saw them....


Burning red orbs that hung in the air amongst the black silhouette, she was transfixed on those eyes, the figure stalked closer to her, caught up in the momentum of his eyes and walk, the predatorily gleam devouring her fear, and suddenly she snapped.


Glancing from the figure to the mobile phone on her desk back to the figure, to the door and back to the red eyes, he took another step closer, and then she moved.


Reaching for her mobile, she snatched it up off the mahogany desk, scraping her nails in the process, yet completely unaware at this point in time; she bolted for the door, the figure, taking in her actions followed suit. The chase had begun, both were aware of it.


Her blood pumping in her veins and thrumming in her ears, she exited the door and ran in the opposite direction, heading past a few cubicles in the office, she ran, down the corridor that lead to the lifts, she turned to look behind her, the black figure hot on her heels, his jet black hair billowing behind him as he ran. She flung right, running into another corridor, down that small length of passage, left into a huge storage room and out the other end, knocking boxes down in her plight she found herself in another huge office space. Sparing a glance behind her, she noticed that the figure wasn’t there anymore. In the maze of cubicles partitioned off throughout the entire floor, she ran, finally ducking under one of the desks, she curled into herself . Pulling the desk chair in front of her in a blind moment of camouflage, she flipped open her phone and hit 1 seed dial.


The ringing began, once.... echoing in her right ear, as the left strained to hear any signs of her stalker.

Twice

“Pick up please...”

She heard muffled footsteps, her breath once again hitching into her throat as they got a bit loader, deep breathing was barely audible in between the rings of her mobile that seemed to boom out of the small device...

Three times it rang

Then, she saw his silhouetted legs, walking behind the partition, behind the desk.


Forth ring.

The figure paused. A second of sheer horror flashed before her. Then he kept walking.

Fifth ring

“Please pick up....” she whimpered into the device. The ring was interrupted


“Tash-“

“Sesshomaru”

She whispered into the small phone, suddenly the desk chair was gone from in front of her and she found herself wrenched out of her hiding space, her eyes wide like a deer caught in head lights as a scream left her lips. The black figure had wrenched her out by the scruff of her collar, holding her up in the air, she began to struggle, kicking her legs and arms in different directions. Her mobile fell falling from her gasp as her struggling began. Her attacker brought her closer to his face, a hairs breath from his nose touching her, she could smell the pungent scent of rotten blood on his breath as he growled low in his throat.


“I would stop that if I were you”


The small mobile lay forgotten, with a very anxious Taiyoukai yelling on the other end having heard her say his name, fear coating her small voice then a scream.


“Kagome Kagome...What’s going on Kagome?????


She brought her eyes up to meet his, ruby red depths met her cerulean gaze, then she noticed the small back pupils that dotted each glowing burgundy orb. She met his gaze with a slight gasp as the hairs on the back of her neck tingled, something that they hadn’t done in a good while as an old sensation ran through her.


‘Youkai’

Her subconscious mind alerted her to the obvious, allowing her baser instincts to take hold, she grasped his hand that was now flexing with the weight of her, still holding the scruff of her collar.


Smirking at her limp form, he moved her away from his face. His voice screeching in her ears as the dry, animalistic noise echoed throughout the office space.


“This is going to be fun...don’t worry it will all be over soon...”


She felt the cool sensation of the window against her back and exposed legs as he roughly slammed her against the glass.


Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, something awoke within her, something that has been dormant for a while... tickling her senses and bringing about a strange sense of deja’vu she would of picked up on if she weren’t in mortal danger.

She felt defenceless, the deep ruby depths burnt into her brain, a small chuckle left his lips, she saw his fangs, yellow, incrusted, with what she was sure was blood and flesh, his other hand came up in line with his head, cracking unbelievably large knuckles, he brought her once more inches from his form...

“You die now, Kagome of the Bow..... Know the name of the person who put an end to the prophecy... Know the name of you killer, Ichuo Naginata the last-“

It snapped, her resolve snapped, her reason snapped, she snapped, Kagome Higurashi snapped and broke. Like flicking on a switch in the back of her mind, in the deep ressesses of her being, the dormant something rose, flaring to life, her eyes closed and her body went limp in his arms, her head falling to the side.


It filled her, racing alone every fibre of her being, intricately woven into every cell of her body, Kagome of the Bow thrummed with life, her eyes snapping open, blue ice orbs met those of ruby red as she raised her head, still being clutched by the attacker, she cocked her head to the side almost in a quizzical way, one would normally consider cute under different circumstances, blinking a few times, her silver pupils dilated a bit in the blue depths and then narrowed as if in understanding, she raised her left arm, placing it over his own, the attacker looking on in wonder at the turn of events as they occurred. Kagome watching her own hand as if in question, she settled it against the attackers big knuckles and then, straightening her head, two small words left her lips as her hand glowed a brilliant white, illuminating the surrounding office area


“ByeBye...”

blinking a few times as her hand glowed even brighter, she heard the youkai gasp as an intense heat encompassed his body, scorching him from the inside


“Aaak the power..... the power.... its its...”

Before the attacker could finish his sentence, an explosion rocked the building as the youkai disintegrated into nothing. Blown back by the sheer force of her own powers, Kagome went sailing through the glass of the 15th floor high window, she fell, earthbound with the rest of the glass and broken furniture from the explosion, Kagome closed her perfectly blue orbs as she awaited the impending doom of the connection with the earth below her. With a deadly thud, she hit something and upon connection, she was out.....


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Present day , Tashio Mansion, Sesshomaru’s private Study


Sitting in his study, he had just gotten off the phone with one of his assassins who owed him a long overdue favour. His mobile began to ring just as the receiver clicked into place, picking up the buzzing device, he flipped it open and answered, annoyance lacing his voice as to who would be ringing this number at this time of night.


“Tashi-“


Thats when he heard the whisper, a silent plea for the protection he had promised all these years, his name

“Sesshomaru”


He picked up on her shallow breathing and distraught sound in her voice, he could almost smell the fear radiating off her form, her scream followed. His blood boiled, he hadn’t heard hear scream like that since she saw her parents being killed.


““Kagome Kagome...What’s going on Kagome?????


His voice roared though the phone, yet to no one on the other side.


Silently cursing technology, his beast stirred, clamping the device shut, he moved, fast, grabbing his jacket and his keys, he left his mansion.


‘What the hell happened to Miroku, he was supposed to be watching her... damn monk.’


Catching a very gruff looking Kai on the way out, a cup of steaming cocoa in his hand.


“Sessh where you going?”


Speaking to thin air as he watched the Taiyoukai fly out the front door, not bothering with an answer, he merely shrugged and carried on shuffling back to his room, taking a sip of his warm chocolate, it hit him as to where the Taiyoukai was headed at such speed. The only place he would be headed at that speed.


‘Kagome...’


Spitting the mouth fill of warm liquid out, spraying the surrounding wall, he pivoted in is step, glancing back around at the now stained white walls he uttered a small


“oops”

Before heading in the direction the Taiyoukai had exited. Now wide awake, he grabbed his keys and yelled, his voice booming in the empty halls.

“Inuyasha....”

Pausing a few seconds a very sluggish answer was heard

“What?!?”


“Kagome....”

Not waiting for the response, he headed out the door...

“Fuck”

the hanyou’s voice filtered to the halls, followed by an ominous silence.


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Present Day, Tashio Enterprises, Lobby


On his way out of the office, having returned to gather his things up for the night, he clicked on his laptop, doing one last email check, when a small box popped up. Intrigued by the noise, the Wolf youkai sat down, and clicked on the box, only planning to take a quick peek, it was something to do with an online game that he had signed onto some time ago called Violent Deaths 3, a game where you get to blow people up with your own explosions of your design, getting rather into the game that he had logged onto and had begun the selection process, the next time the wolf youkai glanced at the clock it was 2:05am, sighing a the time, he logged off the game and grabbed his bag and headed out the office.


Just as he left the glass doors, giving a quick nod to the youkai guard that stood at the swivelling doors, he felt something, looking up, he saw it, a bright white light shining through one of the windows on one of the 14 or 15th floors, then he felt it, immense power, raw and untamed as the after wave of electrical energy hit his jaki square in the face, a spit second later the place where the light was shining erupted in an ear piercing explosion, shielding his deep blue orbs from the intense power and light from the explosion a deafening silence followed moments later, it broke with the shattering of glass on the pavement, as the windows and various debris fell from the sky, the wolf looked up and gasped, something bigger than glass was falling, something black and red, it flickered with an unnatural glow, within seconds he was under it, ready to catch the form.


He buckled under the weight of the impact knocking the wind out of him, he caught the body with a small


“UMph”

Shaking his head and regaining his composure, he looked at the form in his arms, it was a women, her black suit and white blows were torn and drenched in her own blood, abrasions and wounds scarred her flesh, her eyes were closed, her mouth slightly open.

A bruise was already forming on her head near her temple and around her neck. Koga frowned in concentration, a familiar sense of deja’vu rippled through his body at the sight of the girls face.


In the background, the wolf heard the sirens of the fire brigade and the police, small crowd of hookers and beggars and a few by passers had begun to gather around the now littered sidewalk.


A man came running out of the darkness, calling out a name, Kouga studied the figure for a bit, he was a dark haired man, looked a bit dishevelled and it looks like he was doing up his... pants?

He made his way over to the pair that were still on the ground. His violet orbs shining with concern and anxiety as he spoke to the almost def Ookami.


“Kagome!?!??!?! Holy crap is she alright? Kagome?”


Then it dawned on him, Kagome....

‘AAh yes the women that I had met at the Tashio manner earlier today, that’s her, the women that Sesshomaru....Shit....’


He turned to the now anxious man, he growled, not knowing who the man was, he wrapped the women’s form more protectively in his arms, his inner beast surfacing at the primal actions. Placing a finger on Kagome’s neck, he checked her pulse.....


Faint and a little unsteady but there.


The violet eyed man backed off a bit at the possessive growl of the ookami.


The police and fire fighters were on the scene in mere moments, creating a barrier, a paramedic made his way over to the three people, kneeling in front of the ookami, he approached the two slowly, listening to the growl of the wolf youkai and responding with his own softer growls.

Upon hearing the growl, the ookami felt the intent of the approaching demon and allowed him to take the girl from his arms, still growling low. The younger violet eyed man followed the paramedic as he whisked the women into one of the ambulances. The women now out of his view, the ookami allowed another paramedic to give him the once over as he somehow relaxed from the adrenaline that was running through his system and his inner beast once again receding, which would be the cause of much mental strain later as he tried to figure out why his beast surfaced.


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Present day, the Street outside Tashio Enterprises

By the time the Taiyoukai had reached his office, a barrier was blocking off the street, police sirens and fire engines where in front of his office building, letting off an angered growl, he left his car and made his way through the crowd of people that had gathered behind the barrier. Immediately recognising the youkai Lord, the police man let him through, he quickly assessed the damage to the building, giving it a quick once over, scenting the air, he smelt it, underneath the dust and muck of the explosion, the raw power of electrodes in the air, and underneath that blood, a lot of blood, Kagome sent. His beast stirred once again in the depths of his subconscious at the smell, coming closer to the surface. With a bestial growl, the Taiyoukai latched onto her scent and followed his nose, leading him straight to an ambulance, there he spotted Miroku and a few paramedics standing outside the van all looking slightly baffled.

Approaching the group, he let of another growl as the scent of Kagome’s blood increased, his beast was now pushing on his control. Unaware of the approaching demon Lord, the violet eyes man’s eyes widened as he found himself hanging in mid air with the Taiyoukai holding him up by the throat.


A bestial gruffness edging his voice, the Taiyoukai spoke.


“Miroku.... you failed....”


Staring down at the angry Demon, the monk gulped.


His once amber orbs now bleeding a slight crimson, he let out another vengeance growl squeezing the monk’s throat, cutting of his air supply, before he dropped the monk to the ground, he approached the van, yet was stopped with the words of the monk that was now coughing and spluttering from the attack of his boss and friend.


“You can’t get to her, there’s a barrier around her, something she must of erected herself...”


Ignoring the monks warning, he approached the bed, looking at Kagome, taking in her battered form, caused his eyes to bleed red completely, he walked towards her, climbing into the van, but he was stopped, a crackling was heard as blue bots of power shot forth at the Taiyoukai, coming from an invisible barrier surrounding the miko, growling at the bolts, he pushed against the barrier with his own aura, his beast now in control.

His jaki coming forth as he pushed against the barrier again, the blue bolts of power increasing around his form, letting off his own red glow of power, he let off another growl, that to some sounded like a very feral


“Kagome”


Then as if the young miko had heard the voice, the bolts of power immediately subsided, the Taiyoukai’s own red jaki retuning to his form. He approached the miko, crimson eyes raking across her , the abrasions and cuts that marred her face were clotted with blood, her suit was maimed and a deep maroon with the blood that seeped out of her wounds . Bruises adorned her temples and neck, a vicious growl left his chest at the sight of the miko, approaching her, he reached a trembling clawed hand out to touch her form and immediately, as his fingertips grazed her cheek, blue sparks came off her skin, connecting with his hand almost encouraging the touch. His hand lay on her cheek, still trembling almost as a magnetic pull was drawing him to her, he reached down and gathered the miko in his arms, nuzzling her face gently, relief washed over him as he felt the soft breath form her lips on his skin.


Whimpering slightly at her death like appearance, he exited the van, forming his ball of light he left the scene and a group of gobsmacked paramedics and a baffled monk.

‘Now that was strange’ the monk stood rubbing his bruised neck as he watched the ball of light disappear into the horizon.
“Something is strange about that women...maybe Sango can help.”

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A/N I would like to thank the three people who have reviewed my work thus far, you have brought a smile to my face and gave me a fuzzy feeling inside and finally inspired me to no end! Thank you *Bows reverently*

I apologise for any gramatical errors you may find in here, my beta rushed through this chapter with the impending doom in the form of midterms towering over our heads, us students need all the time we can get, so blame her not me... just kidding, would be greatly appriciated if you point them out...

The proverb used here is one of an old chinese saying, and is also used in one of my all time favourite Disney movies, Mulan!!! *sign me up for the next war!!!* ;p


Until next time...