Hell Knows No Bounds

A.N.: Aloha! I am sooo happy!! Thanx for the reviews!! *grins* I feel loved! I'll continue writing as long as the reviews keep coming!

Disclaimer: *knocks head on wall* Why do I have to do this again?? *lawyers enter cramped room* Oh"¦fine. *mumbles* I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters"¦

**Last Chapter**

A heart-shattering scream filled the clearing as the flames grew brighter. A final burst of light left the clearing silent and dark.

Except for the glowing figure slowly approaching the group, that is.

**On with the story"¦**

Chapter 5
Whole once again"¦

The meadow danced in shades of blue, green, and silver as another breeze graced the clearing. Inuyasha and the other slowly got to their feet and looked about them, surveying the damage. Were ground where Kagome had lain was blacked and cratered. Any other sign of fire had disappeared. No smoke, ash, or flame remained to be seen. Yet Kagome had disappeared without a trace. A gasp from Sango drew his attention to a glowing figure at the other edge of the meadow. Apparently the creature had been staring into the well in deep thought, only to turn and begin walking towards the group. Shippo raced to stand a couple feet ahead of Inuyasha. Sesshomaru came to stand beside his half-brother; his face held the faintest sign of a smirk. Such a face only added to Inuyasha and Kouga's confusion.

"Why the HELL are you SMILING?!?!" Kouga growled. "Can't you see Kagome is missing?! You finally show your true color, Fluffy! Behold! The Western Lord we all know and loathe!" His anger only grew when he saw the smirk broaden. The frosty voice met his ears.

"Silence, insolent whelp." Sesshomaru spat as he walked to Shippo's side and dropped his gaze to the small Kitsune. "Go to her." Shippo's eyes met his, widening at his words.

"M-Mamma?" Blinking back tears the small boy took off across the field and bounded into the arms of the darkened figure. "Mamma!" Sesshomaru barked out at the others to not interfere. Their confused eyes search his calm façade; the moonlight seemed to give him an otherworldly glow.

"Is that really Kagome?" Sango whispered as Miroku held her. All the monk could do is shake his head in awe as he saw the woman embrace the demon as a son. Sesshomaru began a slow walk towards Kagome's moon-bathed form, a small smile playing on his lips. He knew from when he had first smelt the change what would happen, yet he hadn't expected to happen so sudden. Her darkened beauty took his breath away; her fiery eyes held him captive. Inuyasha and the others chose to stay put, unable to comprehend what had happened to their friend.

Happy yips and giggles could be heard coming from the small boy as the moon revealed the approaching woman. Her own skin glowed, the wind sweeping her long hair around her. The silk kimono's folds danced around her form, hiding the small kitsune from view. She shifted the small bundle, careful not to snag him on the spikes of her armor.

"My little Shippo"¦" Her voice was deeper. It was almost a purr; sensual in nature yet held a predatory undertone. It startled her at first. When the darkness had dissipated, she was afraid of what would happen when the others saw her, yet when Shippo ran into her waiting arms, she no longer cared what the others thought. Her Shippo was okay with her and that's all that mattered. Taking a deep breath, she quickened her pace to the waiting group ahead of her. She gasped as Sesshomaru's silver and white form closed in on hers. Within moments they stood at arms length of each other. Her tail twitched in nervousness as he gazed into her eyes. Shippo glanced from his "˜mother' to the Western Lord, a smile on his lips. Jumping up, the kit gave Kagome a quick kiss on the cheek and jumped to the ground to race to the others, leaving the two demons alone.

"Sesshomaru." The Inuyoukai felt a shiver go up his spine; the way she said his name left tremors running through him. Her satin hair fluttered in the wind, her eyes searched his. Before he could stop himself, he raised a clawed hand to her cheek to cup her face. Her scent danced all around him, and the dizzy feeling was beginning to return. A wine-striped hand soon covered his own. Kagome closed her eyes and leaned into the velvety hand, purring happily. There was suddenly warmth around her and she felt something "“ almost like fine strands of silk, brush up against her hands and against her back. Sesshomaru had unwound his tail from himself and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Kagome's thoughts began to wander as she let herself be blanketed by his aura.

"˜This feels so right"¦I never felt this way when Inuyasha touched me.' Electricity seemed to pour from his palm's caress into her skin. "˜He's so gentle. He's changed so much since he saved Rin.'

"Kagome"¦I"¦" He felt pathetic. "˜Why was this so difficult, considering what has happened between the two of us moments ago.' Kagome held her gaze as he spoke, confused by his hesitance. The wind had changed directions once more, bringing an unpleasant scent with to his nose. Growling low, Sesshomaru pulled Kagome to him long enough to whisper in her ear. "You are perfect"¦I will accept no other." With that said he released her and whirled around to come face to face with Kouga.

"Kagome! Wow! You look great! I'm so happy to see you're okay!" Kouga rushed forward, ignoring Sesshomaru completely. Big mistake"¦

"I believe we have something to finish, cub." Sesshomaru could feel his eyes begin to bleed red as the wolf snorted in reply. As Kouga faced the Inuyoukai, he felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. Something was different now. Before, Sesshomaru had just been playing with him, now the demon seemed hell bent on blood. The Lord of the Western Lands felt himself slipping. "˜I will not lose to some insolent pup!' He cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes, as if listening to some distant call. "˜Damn Kagome's scent!' The dizzy feeling began to work at his mind, calling for blood. Kouga physically braced himself. Kagome remained a statue, her burgundy eyes locked on Sesshomaru.
Upon receiving her true blood, all the instincts necessary for survival in the Demon world had flooded into her. She knew this had to happen. Just telling Kouga that she cared for him as a brother only would not stop him from pushing this further. Sesshomaru would apparently have to beat it into him.

The others had finally approached, standing next to Kagome to watch the upcoming duel. Shippo once again settled himself in his adoptive mother's arms. Sango approached Kagome slowly, but smiled when her sister in battle grinned and held her only vacant arm out for a hug. Kagome wasn't so quick to embrace Miroku due to his lecherous nature and wandering hands. The fact that he was eyeing her like a 6-course meal wasn't helping his case either. Inuyasha gave her a friendly smile and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance, while Kikyo offered a lopsided grin as she shot a pointed look at the fuming demons in the middle of the field. Kagome blushed prettily before turning her attention to the Sesshomaru and Kouga. Following through tradition, Kagome placed Shippo in Sango's arms and walked out to stand a few yards from the two. Bowing her head in acknowledgement, the two princes faced each other. The wind had stopped, yet short giggles, nervous chatter, and hushed whispers carried across the field, reaching Kagome's ears. She felt them twitch slightly before deciding to ignore the gossips.

"This Sesshomaru will show you what happens when you rise against your betters!" An icy smirk graced his royal features, molten-gold eyes sparked with new life. "Besides, I don't a low-breed demon such as you could handle a mate of Kagome's potential." His cold laughter and words shot through Kouga like daggers.

"I don't think taking advice on love from an Ice Prince such as you would be wise. Then again"¦I should expect such from the kin of Inuyasha. You Dog demons are all so pathetic." Kouga smirked as the red in Sesshomaru's eyes deepened to match Kagome's kimono. He would soon have the demoness for himself, and send the Western Lord packing with his tail between his legs. Kouga charged Sesshomaru, claws and fangs bared. Sesshomaru disappeared in a streak of white silk as Kouga's claws came down. The Demon Lord had begun to lose himself during Kouga's trash-talk. He would humiliate the wolf utterly.

Stepping lightly to avoid attention, Sesshomaru continued to move in and out of shadows as Kouga scanned the area around him. He smiled slightly as a string of curses flew from the Wolf Prince's lips. Sesshomaru launched himself into the air, letting loose his poison whip above the wolf's head. Kouga looked up just in time to see the whip's end wrap itself firmly around his throat. He yelped as the poison began to burn his throat, breathing was already becoming a complicated task. Seconds stretched on for an eternity, darkness began to take the wolf until suddenly the whip was gone. Only to be replaced by Sesshomaru's clawed hand. Kouga's azure orbs widened as the western prince raised him from his kneeling position to a foot off the ground. The wolf demon's hands clutched at Sesshomaru's in a weak attempt to dislodge his claws from his badly burned throat. Over his own struggle he heard Sesshomaru's growled words.

"Submit"¦" Crimson eyes bored into his. Kouga coughed roughly, his feet dangling uselessly above the ground. Would Sesshomaru really kill him? If Kagome were still human he knew she would interfere, but now she would know better. To interfere would be disgraceful to both him and her. Then again, Kouga knew he was too prideful to accept such help. Sesshomaru shook the suspended wolf, making sure he stayed awake enough to cry out for mercy. Applying more pressure to his claws, blood began to seep from puncture wounds in Kouga's neck.

"Never! You don't"¦deserve"¦her!" Kouga's breath was coming in quick gasps now. His lungs screamed for relief as lights began to dance before his eyes. Sesshomaru roared in such fury that one would think the ground moved in fear of his wrath. Kagome gasped but remained still; it had to be this way. She silently prayed for Kouga to come to his senses.

"˜Just submit! Please Kouga!' Her vision began to swim with unshed tears. Apparently she was not the only one who saw it that way. Others in the group behind her began to speak up.

"Don't be a fool, Wolf-breath! Submit already!" Inuyasha barked. Kikyo watched on in pure terror, a pale hand other her mouth. This was only answered by another "never" by the sputtering wolf.

"Very well then"¦" Sesshomaru brought Kouga down to his eye-level; determined to get his point across. "I wanted to spare her your death, but I will not let anyone, or anything, take what is rightfully mine. You know, deep in your heart, who she truly belongs to." Sesshomaru sighed; he didn't want it to end this way but he was running out of options. He looked to Kagome, begging forgiveness with his eyes as she gazed back. The Inuyoukai turned his gaze back on the struggling Wolf demon in his grasp.

The group watched on in horror as Sesshomaru raised his other hand, poison dripping from his claws, toward Kouga's heart.


TBC

A.N.: Yes, I know"¦I'm evil! *evil laughter* Sorry guys"¦help it. Maybe after I take a couple hours for a break, I'll come back and write another chapter. Many thanks to all my reviewers, you guys ROCK!! Yeah, baby!!! I hope you enjoyed it too, dad! (Yes, my father wanted to see what I was writing! *grin* How cool is that?) See ya soon! Cheers!! "“ G.S.

Thanks to these reviewers:

Rachi: *takes a bow* I know I'm evil but I hear that have a pill for that now so hopefully it will get better. Thanks for such a passionate review, it helped.

FayeMegan: Yes indeed! Sess/Kag pairings are irresistible!!

Stormshadow: I'm trying to not confuse too many people, but some wired did get crossed. What can I say? I'm special! (Even ask my dad! Lol)

Gem: Thanks, it's good to know I'm not killing the story with detail. I have a tendency to do that sometimes!

Ookami K.: Ask and ye shall receive!!