Total Eclipse of the Heart

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this fanfic except for certain characters such as Liana, Aya, Aki, etc. The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I make no profit from this fanfic.

Author's Note: Ok guys...sorry I could not update before I left to see Wicked. I was extremely busy with some college essays that I needed to turn in. I have returned from my small vacation of seeing the musical Wicked and IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! I would recommend anyone to see this show if you have not already. I was and still am not a fan of Wizard of Oz; HOWEVER I am a huge fan of Wicked and its music!

And I deeply apologize for taking so long to update...I really didn't mean it!

Sesshomaru's beast has returned again for a short time in this chapter and the same rules apply as they did in the last couple of chapters:

Sesshomaru's beast

Sesshomaru's thoughts


Chapter Six: Betrayal of the Youkai

"No!" whimpered the young miko as she once again fought the arms that surrounded her small form. Her miko powers were still nullified from the beads that the youkai had used to bind her hands, yet somehow, her fighting spirit carried on. Oh yes, the poor miko was petrified but she continued to fight the Western Lord who simply growled at her movements once again as he had done so for most of the night.

"Cease your movements, Miko," Sesshomaru stated as his arms tightened. For hours now, he was contemplating on returning her to his hanyou brother; however, honor dictated that he continue this quest to the Youkai Court. It was nearing dawn and though they would be leaving soon, Sesshomaru had yet to return to his small camp with the young miko.

Jaken had found the two of them sometime during the late hours of the night and Sesshomaru had ordered him to watch the children. Needless to say, the small youkai was shocked to find the onna in the arms of his lord, yet he said nothing in return and did as the Western Lord requested. At the sight of the young miko, Jaken could only surmise what had happened...and he was saddened. Not only was the Shikon Miko violated, but Sesshomaru-sama's honor had been violated as well. As her protector, it was his duty to see that she was safe at all times, and yet this had happened. Jaken sighed as he came to the realization that there would be a great deal of fights upon the return to the Youkai Court.

Some days ago, Sesshomaru-sama had also received a summons, only to learn upon arrival that the elders of the Youkai Court had decided that the Western Lord would become the protector of the Shikon Miko. Even a youkai lord as powerful as Sesshomaru could not go against the orders of the elders of the Youkai Court, thus he became honor-bound to the young miko.

Sesshomaru's growl grew even more as the miko's powers slowly returned to her and she used them against him. Her skin was already scorched from the night of raging fevers, but her miko powers now made her body burn in a way that began to form blisters on the Western Lord's arms. "Miko!" he called out but still she did not respond. This was not acceptable; not for Sesshomaru and especially not for Kagome.

Just as Sesshomaru began to stand and head towards his small pack, he began to pick up a strange scent on the wind. He recognized the scent. He had met this youkai only on one other occasion in which the youkai had saved his ward from another blood-thirsty youkai. The Western Lord's eyes began to glow red. Kagome was indecent and though he had failed to protect her from the abuse of Prince Hayate of the Southern Youkai, Sesshomaru would ensure that her honor, whatever little of it left there was, would be kept intact.

Wrapping parts of his clothing around the young miko, Sesshomaru stood and awaited the confrontation with the lesser Youkai who was more than likely on his way to the Youkai Court as well.

Has he come to harm the miko? His beast questioned as the scent became even stronger.

This Sesshomaru does not believe so, the Western Lord replied.

He will try to take the onna from us. His beast stated with a deep growl. We have failed her...

It will not happen again, Sesshomaru thought angrily.

"Kagome!" cried out the familiar youkai as he appeared before the Western Lord. "Sesshomaru? What the hell are you doing here and....WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO KAGOME?!"

"Are you familiar with this onna?" Sesshomaru questioned out of curiosity.

"You bastard, don't change the subject!" the youkai exclaimed. "What the hell happened to my woman?!"

His woman? His beast growled.

He lies, Sesshomaru replied. The onna is to be Inuyasha's mate...not this wolf's.

"Answer me Sesshomaru!" Kouga exclaimed as he neared Kagome. Sesshomaru's eyes glowed red as the wolf neared his person...the miko somehow reacting to this and grabbing the Western Lord's armor and pushing her face into his chest.

"You are not obligated to question this Sesshomaru, wolf," Sesshomaru barked in response. "The miko is in this Sesshomaru's protection; decreed by the Youkai Court."

"And this is your way of protection?" Kouga growled. "I know you don't necessarily care for humans, with the exception of your ward, but is the Shikon Miko! Kagome is the brave woman who stood against my pack, my tribe, in order to save the kitsune. This is the onna that defeated not only Naraku AND the Shikon no Tama, but other countless youkai that simply saw her and Inuyasha as easy targets."

Sesshomaru rushed forward as fast and gently as he could with Kagome secure in his arms. One of his claws lashed out at the young lord, who, without the sacred jewel shards was not nearly as fast as he had been before, was unsuccessful at moving out of the way.

"Do NOT take this Sesshomaru so na?, wolf," Sesshomaru growled. "You have not been a lord long enough to earn this Sesshomaru's alliance so do not take heed that your life would not be forfeit for such accusations."

"Ses-...-maru," Kagome's sweet and fragile voice called out. The red from the youkai's eyes completely dissipated as the Western Lord gazed down at the onna who barely had her eyes open.

"Miko," Sesshomaru responded, his voice still as cold as it had been when confronting Kouga.

"Don't...kill...please," she rasped out as her grip on his armor tightened. The Western Lord growled in response...his grip on the wolf's neck becoming even more threatening as nails punctured the skin.

Sesshomaru was honor-bound to protect this onna...he had failed...now the Western Lord was left indebted to the Shikon Miko. This too was unacceptable.

Kouga was set loose from the youkai lord's deadly claws and landed on the ground below him with a large grunt.

Sesshomaru turned back in the direction of his pack. "Do not cross my path again, wolf," Sesshomaru warned as he disappeared in the forest with a smile upon Kagome's face.


~~~


Though conscious, Kagome did not say another word when returning to the small camp, nor did she speak that day. She had smiled for the children, and had told Sesshomaru that she could walk on her own...proving to him she actually could when she fought her way out of his arms sometime after they began their journey again.

Sesshomaru simply growled at her stubbornness and then took lead once again; both acting as if nothing had ever happened the night before. The children could clearly see the pain in the miko as she walked "happily" behind the Western Lord and it concerned them greatly. If Kagome did not face her pain now...there would be much more before the day or week for that matter was over.

Jaken was even concerned for the miko. She continued to smile, but her silence was not at all to his liking. In just a short period of time, the small youkai had grown accustomed to Kagome's annoying mouth and missed it slightly.

"Oka-san?" Shippo asked but got one of Kagome's fake smiles n return. "Oka-san, are you going to be alright?"

"Yes, Shippo," she replied softly. "I'll-"

She nearly collided with the back of the Western Lord as he made am immediate stop and started to sniff around the air.

"Sesshomaru?" she called out, trying to get his attention.

"The Youkai Court is ahead," Sesshomaru stated and when Kagome tried to move around him to keep going, he suddenly grabbed the upper part of her right arm harshly to hold her back. "Something is amiss, Miko."

Kagome looked at him with confusion but then looked around the area and tried to let some of her miko powers loose to spot any auras. When she could not detect any, she turned back to Sesshomaru who let her arm go. His eyes were narrowed and were looking on one particular destination to their far right.

"What is it Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked as she started to get worried. She hurried over to Kagome's side, Shippo following right behind her. Both children grabbed a hold of each of her legs, shaking slightly from the unknown.

"Don not move," Sesshomaru growled as he turned his back to his small pack. "Jaken."

"Yes my lord!" the small imp replied, as if knowing exactly what his master was thinking. He jumped in from of his lord and placed the staff in the ground. "BEWARE THE POWER OF STAFF OF TWO HEADS!"

Fire blasted into the trees, several shadows moving within them to avoid the small youkai's attack. Kagome gasped as she realized that these shadows were masking their scent. They were surrounded.

"Fools," Sesshomaru growled. "Show yourself!"

A moment later, Kagome's scream broke through the air and Sesshomaru quickly turned to see two inu-youkai grabbing her by the arms. The Western Lord let out a large growl, his eyes bleeding red as he began to charge at those who dared to touch what was his protection.

"Stop right there, Sesshomaru," spoke out a very powerful voice as a youkai who resembled very closely to Sesshomaru, appeared from within the forest. The only true difference between these two inu-youkai was their markings. Where the Western Lord had to magenta stripes on his cheeks and a moon on his forhead, this youkai bore no markings on his forhead yet had one red stripe on each of his cheeks. Sesshomaru did stay in his place, but his eyes did not recede in color. The inu-youkai's gaze turned from the Western Lord to the young miko who had an expression on her face that looked beyond petrified.

"What's going on?" she screamed, fighting against the youkai who held her and was successful at purifying their hands. They screamed at the assault and Kagome took the chance to run with the children to Sesshomaru's side. He immediately placed her behind him and let out a low growl of warning. "Sesshomaru?"

"Sesshomaru, calm that beast of yours," the inu-youkai demanded as he took a step forward, warning his men not to move. When the Western Lord failed to comply, the inu-youkai took another step forward. "Pup, listen well to your elder; you are not alpha in these lands."

Somehow, those words reached Sesshomaru and the red from his eyes faded. The Western Lord stood tall, making sure that the miko was out of this inu-youkai's gaze.

"Please, tell me what's happening." Kagome's voice called out to him but Sesshomaru did not respond.

"It is alright, Shikon Miko," the inu-youkai responded. "You are safe now." Kagome heard a growl erupt from the male in front of them. "You are a disgrace, pup."

"Hisao-sama," Sesshomaru began to growl once more.

"Silence, Sesshomaru!" Hisao exclaimed. "You have disappointed your kin this day! Now, stand aside and let the miko face me."

Kagome gasped as Sesshomaru did as the Hisao stated. The children moved behind her as the elder inu-youkai moved closer to her. He smiled at her and bowed slightly in greeting; the miko bowed slowly in reply.

"Take her," Hisao ordered, many youkai suddenly coming forward and wrapping enchantment beads around her hands. Her screams were heart-wrenching to the inu-youkai as she was pulled away from the area. The children began screaming her name as well, but slowly moved to Sesshomaru's side in fear.

"Oka-san!" Shippo cried out.

"Sesshomaru-sama, bring her back please!" Rin pleaded to her lord, but he did not even acknowledge her.

"Be calm, pups," Hisao stated. "The miko will alright. We are taking her away for her own protection." His eyes began to bleed red as he looked to Sesshomaru. "You are to WATCH these pups and BRING them SAFELY to the Court!" He turned away from the Western Lord but paused and looked back over his shoulder. "You have shamed your sire, Sesshomaru. I thank the kamis my brother is not here to witness such humility."