Love Me to the End?

Welcome to chapter 7! ‘Tis another long one, enjoy! This chapter has been 99.9 spell proofed!

CHAPTER 7 :) Mending

What is this strange presence I feel floating through me? Where am I? I can barely see, it’s so dark...Is that...is that Kirara? What is she doing here? What am I doing here? Kagome stood up, her legs feeling like jell-o beneath her. She took a step towards Kirara, freezing when the Two-Tail spun around and hissed at her.

The Demon was in her fighting form, the dangerous Kirara that fought by Sango’s side in battles. But this Demon was not Kirara...No, there was no way it could be Kirara. The large cat’s fangs looked much sharper and more deadly than that of Kirara’s. Its hiss made Kagome’s heart leap in fear, it made her blood run cold... The Demon was built with tight muscle, it had to be a good five inches taller than Kirara...and its eyes...they glowed an eerie brown.

The Demon roared suddenly and leapt at her, fury and hunger in its bright eyes. Kagome screamed and threw up her hands in defense, ready to feel teeth and claws tear through her flesh. There was a blinding flash of light and she found herself laying flat on the ground, the Two-Tail staring down at her, a growl rumbling from its throat. It bent down and sniffed at her, hissing as if unsure of what she was. Kagome held her breath, waiting for it to attack, but the Demon withdrew and vanished into the darkness that surrounded her.

I thought it wanted to eat me! What was that all about? Where am I? What is this place? Kagome slowly stirred from her dream world. She opened her eyes expecting to find herself in the same dark void of nothingness that had consumed her dreaming mind. She looked around, feeling disorientated, confused as to where she was. Kagome saw Sango’s sleeping bag empty on the floor along with Miroku’s things and Shippo’s kid weapons. The Feudal Era? I must be dreaming still...I’m supposed to be at home in bed...Ayume...

She shut out that thought, her eyes watering up. She blinked away the tears and spotted InuYasha asleep, hunched in a corner of the hut, his sword set beside him in arms reach incase trouble appeared. His ear twitched as a soft breeze filtered through the single room.

Kagome pushed herself up and leaned back against the wall, trying to remember how she had gotten here. It was seeming less and less like a dream by the minute. She looked down to see her mother’s favorite blanket covering part of her legs. It was well worn out, but Kagome couldn’t imagine her mother giving it to her, especially if she was going to the Feudal Era with it.

Kagome reached down and pulled the blanket around her, feeling cold inside. She glanced at InuYasha, a tear running down her cheek as she thought about the reunion. The first day had been an amazing one, one that she didn’t want to erase... But everything else was a horror film. She had lost her best friend...and then turned around and shut out everyone important to her. She felt a lump of guilt swell her heart. I led him on, acted like I loved him...and then I pushed him away. I’ve treated him like my friends treated me... I didn’t mean to hurt him...but I know I did and it’s my fault, not his. He didn’t do anything wrong. InuYasha I love you...I’m so sorry. I’m hurting and I don’t know how to deal with it.

Her unspoken words went unheard to the sleeping Half-Demon across from her. She shifted in her blanket and tried to quite her overpowering sobs, afraid to wake InuYasha. But he had been awake all along. He had been pretending to sleep to keep the others out of the hut. They had left to busy themselves with other things, not wanting to wake their sleeping companions. InuYasha had told them about the reunion...well...maybe not the first part, but he did tell them about the shooting and Ayume’s accident. That had stopped the plaguing questions immediately.

Everyone knew what it felt like to lose someone...everyone but Kagome. She was having trouble accepting it. That’s what he told them. That’s what he told himself. That’s why she was pushing him away. She was mourning for her best friend, like he had for his mother... InuYasha knew Kagome was awake. He heard her trying to hide her crying. He opened his eyes to see her wrapped up in the blanket against the wall, her head hidden beneath it with her knees pulled tightly to her body.

InuYasha sighed. He was running out of ideas to ease her pain. He moved quietly over to her side and rested a hand on her shoulder to let her know he was there. Kagome didn’t acknowledge him, making him wince as if he had been ‘Sat’ by her. “What do you want?” Kagome half cried as she tried to swallow the flowing tears. InuYasha was shocked at her question, unable to answer. He thought about what to say, wording his tongue carefully. “I’m only here because I thought you might need me...to lean on... If you want me to leave then I can make it happen just as easily.” He got up, thinking that’s what she wanted but hesitated when she pulled her head from the blanket.

“You know that’s not like you.” She sniffed, controlling her emotions for the moment. InuYasha was puzzled and stopped in front of the door, looking back at her. She wiped her eyes and took a breath to remain in control because she was ready to lose it any minute. “You usually run off right away when I’m upset...you get in those pouting moods and camp out in a tree some place until I find you or I go home. But you’ve stayed with me till now...” InuYasha shook his head, looking outside at the green valley below. “Maybe that’s because I know how it feels...” He left then, afraid he would yell at her for being so stupid.

Kagome was stunned by his parting comment. His words echoed in her ears. “...that’s because I know how it feels...” I’m so stupid! He does know how it feels...his mother died when he was little, he was left alone to fend for himself. He’s had it worse than I have... I’ve been so selfish and blind. I didn’t even think about his feelings...about how this affected him... I don’t even know why I got mad at him in the first place...

She listen to InuYasha’s voice outside. He was calling Sango and the others back and telling them to get ready to leave. “Kagome’s awake so let’s go.” InuYasha stepped back inside and looked at her. “Are you walking or must I carry you?” He asked, none to nicely. Kagome wasn’t surprised that he was upset with her. She longed to apologize, but her stubbornness held fast. “I have two legs thank you.” No! That’s not what I meant! What is wrong with me? Why do I keep snapping at him? He only wants to help and I keep chasing him away... Her mind was beating her for her foul tongue, but her body simply stood up and walked outside in an irritated fashion. She clutched her mother’s blanket to her as she waited for her friends to join her.

“Kagome? Are you alright?” Shippo came up and hopped onto her shoulder. He looked at her with concern and Kagome turned away from his face. She didn’t want sympathy from everyone. She could pull through her misery on her own. “I’m fine Shippo. Can you make sure InuYasha gets my bag?” She asked to keep him busy. “Sure.” The little Kitsune jumped down and ran to find InuYasha who was helping Sango with her sleeping bag. He saw the bulging yellow bag and remembered that Kagome had promised to bring back goodies and curiosity struck him.

I wonder if Kagome brought any suckers with her... He unzipped the bag and found several pairs of Kagome’s school uniform along with a hair brush and other things that weren’t of any interest to him. Ah man. I was hoping she’d get the pops with that gum stuff in the middle. Hey...what’s this in the paper bag. Maybe it’s a new treat. I’ll go ask Kagome if I can have some. Shippo dug out a small crushed looking paper bag long forgotten by Kagome. He saw that it was sealed with two metal clips so he took it and bounded off to ask what was in it.

“Hey Kagome? I found this in your bag. What’s in it?” Kagome heard Shippo’s question and turned to see him holding up a crinkled paper bag. Huh? Where did that come from? I don’t remember packing a paper... Oh wait. A while back mom gave me a bag to bring back here with me. I forgot all about it...I wonder what’s in it. Kagome took the bag and opened it. She pulled out one of several small packages and read the label. “Ah! Shippo this is NOT candy! Uh... I mean...It’s umm...medicine for adults like me...” Kagome felt very fain, completely embarrassed as she shoved the small packet back in its bag.

How does she know about that! How did she find out! How embarrassing! Mom put birth-control pills in my bag! She’s absolutely crazy! Kagome was red head to toe and she fled to find her bag so she could hide the paper sack. She was so blinded with embarrassment that she walked right into InuYasha before she could stop herself. InuYasha was caught by surprise when she ran into him as he was on his way out of the shack. He steadied her, completely puzzled at her behavior. She was suddenly very timid looking; she was blushing as she stared up at him. Then a familiar scent struck him and it knocked him right in the gut. Her arousal. Why was she aroused all of a sudden? Why was she blushing and so innocent looking?

It took a minute for him to realize that he still had a hold of her arms from when he had kept her from falling off balance. He gulped, unable to let go, not wanting to let go. His body was tingling with need and longing. He wanted to kiss her, feel her beneath him again, hear her cries and moans. Kagome couldn’t rip her eyes from InuYasha. She felt very weak as memories of his hot body flashed through her like lightning. She was thirsty for his lips, his body, his love. She would have yelled at him to love her right there, but a jingling thud pulled her back to the world she was standing in.

Kagome blinked and shook her mind free from her desires. She looked to see Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and Kimi all staring at the two of them stuck in the doorway. Miroku had dropped his staff in utter shock; that explained the interruption. InuYasha could see his companions looking at Kagome and then at him. Everyone one was turning red, as if blushing was a contagious disease. Shit! How am I going to get out of this one? I was going to kiss her right on the spot...no I was going to strip her down and do a hell of a lot more than kissing. Her arousal is so damn addictive!

Sango cleared her throat and tried to speak. “Uh...should we just...uh, maybe gather some fire wood or...something? If you... w-want us to go away for a bit, we can...” She said weakly. She was eyeing Miroku out of the corner of her eye. He was a letch. Who knew what he might suddenly think up after seeing their two friends almost kiss. They had done it before awhile back when Kagome had kissed InuYasha to keep him from transforming into a permanent Demon. Even in danger Miroku had tried to have his way with her after watching Kagome and InuYasha’s love display...if it was love. Those two were hard to figure out sometimes. They would never become more than a crush on crush pair at this rate.

InuYasha swallowed the lump in his throat. He was ready to take Sango’s offer and chase away every living soul so he could have his Kagome in peace. But he shook his head, still blushing. “We’re leaving now! Get your stuff and lets go.” He forced his legs to move and yelled at his hands to free themselves from Kagome. Kagome felt a stab of ice in her chest, her heart too numb to feel anything. She knew exactly what he had just done. He had put up a wall and leapt on the other side to hide from them, all of them, including her. But maybe she deserved it this time. Maybe it was punishment for treating him like she had for the past week or so. Still. It hurt.

InuYasha sprang ahead of the group as they left their small camp. Kagome stayed in the back, not wanting to talk or be questioned. Sango and Miroku would glance back once in awhile, not used to her quietness. Kagome ignored it. She ignored everything. The trees scattered about, the small birds filling the air with music, the gurgling river that ran close-by...she ignored it all. It never occurred to her that she couldn’t even hear Kimi who desperately trying to reach her mind. She was building her own wall to hide behind.

It was a few hours later when InuYasha glanced behind him. By then, Sango, Miroku and Shippo had overlapped him and were a few yards in front. Kagome was falling behind. She wasn’t even paying attention as to where she was going, her eyes glued to the ground, completely glazed over as if walking in a trans. She was thinking about something and she was wandering off course. InuYasha sighed. He walked back over to her, his emotions tied up in thick knots. The red of his kimono penetrated Kagome’s thoughts and she looked up, not sure as to where she was.

InuYasha didn’t give her time to pull her mind back together, lifting her onto his back so he could carry her. Oddly enough, Kagome didn’t object. She just rested her head against him and closed her eyes as if wanting to forget something. It didn’t surprise him when he found her asleep a few minutes later as he caught up with the others. They continued on as night came, pressing through the thin forest, picking their way in the dark. Kagome woke from her rather long nap and insisted on walking for herself. InuYasha didn’t agree with her but she threatened to ‘Sit’ him so he let her down on the condition that she pair up with Kirara who was in her larger size for some reason.

Kagome found herself imprisoned between Sango and Miroku in front of her and InuYasha pushing from behind. The night seemed to last forever, but it was cool and the winds were calm. Kagome was stumbling along quietly when InuYasha called it quits for the ‘day’. “This is far enough. I smell water right over here. We’ll stop at the river.” They all followed him as he tracked down the river...No I think it might be a... “A hot spring! Finally! We can relax!” Sango cried when the steaming water came into view. Kagome perked up a little at the sight of the spring, but something else pulled at her attention. A feeling...A presence... Like something calling out to her, drawing her in. It was as if the rising steam itself was passing on a message to her, telling her to follow her senses, to follow the flow of energy.

Kagome was so tuned into whatever it was calling out to her, she didn’t notice her companions setting up camp and starting a fire. She found herself stepping away from them, tugged by some unknown source. She stepped slowly towards the hot spring, but her eyes were not staring at it. They were seeing a door...

InuYasha’s hand stopped her from falling straight into the pooling water in front of her. She blinked and looked down at her reflection with InuYasha’s behind her. Her eyes returned to the door she had seen but there was only an ordinary tree on the far side of the spring. I must still be tired after all... She stepped away from the water and pushed past InuYasha, heading back to camp.

Sango had a towel in one hand, planning to take a dip. “Kagome, are coming?” Shippo asked as he hopped up onto Sango’s shoulder. Kagome shook her head. “No...My eyes hurt, I’m just going to rest.” Shippo and Sango exchanged glances. Rest? She’s been asleep most of the time she’s been here. How could she still be tired. But then again, I wanted to sleep away my pain too when I found out that Naraku had destroyed my village and family. Don’t worry Kagome. The pain will pass, life must go on. Sango smiled sadly and hugged her friend before leaving. “Could you do me a favor and watch the boys then for me? Mainly Miroku...He’s up to no good again...” Kagome nodded, giving the Monk a threatening glare.

“I doubt he’ll try peeking this time...” she said, giving Miroku a full warning to stay put. Sango nodded her thanks and dashed off to the hot spring with Shippo still on her shoulder. Kagome sighed and began searching for her blanket, finding it at the bottom of her bag along with the paper sack she was trying to hide. Seeing it made her blush again and she quickly freed her blanket and zipped up the bag. Within minutes, she was out cold, the crackling fire playing soft music in the background.

Shift...

InuYasha couldn’t sleep. He sat in the crook of a tree branch, keeping watch over his companions as the night slithered by. Morning was taking its time to come and it aggravated him. His mind was bored and it ached in pain for some reason. He kept finding himself looking down at Kagome who was tossing and turning in her sleep like she had done at home. Her breathing was uneven. She must be dreaming... I hope it’s not a nightmare.

As if she had heard his thoughts she suddenly jerked up from her blanket, fully awake. InuYasha was well hidden up in the tree, so he went unnoticed as she looked around at her sleeping friends. Kagome rubbed her eyes to clear them. I felt something, I know I felt it...no I heard someone...someone crying for...I don’t know... The feeling is so weak, it’s hard to tell. But whatever it is, it’s in that direction. I can’t wake the others. Something tells me I should find this out on my own.

She stood up quietly and glanced around for a missing InuYasha. He was nowhere in sight so she guessed he was sleeping in a tree. Kagome picked her way out of camp, unaware of the Half-Demon following her, silently watching over her, ready to protect her if it were the case. Kimi stirred as well. She winged to Kagome’s shoulder, still unable to reach the Miko’s cluttered mind. All the bird could do was bob her head with reassurance. Kagome felt better with Kimi perched on her shoulder and she began to walk towards the flowing energy. It didn’t surprise her when she found herself in front of the hot spring.

InuYasha leapt to the next branch, spying on Kagome in confusion. Why is she wandering around now? Is she going to bathe? Well if that’s the case...I’m not leaving... I have to protect her... He blushed as he lied to himself. Yes, he would guard...but his eyes would be working in a different fashion. He watched as Kagome stopped in front of the spring. She looked this way and that in the darkness as if checking for spying eyes. InuYasha landed on a closer branch as she began to walk around the hot spring. For some reason she held her hands out in front of her, her pace slowing.

Yes. The energy is coming from over there, that tree is the source. Kagome reached the tree and cautiously rested a hand on its rough truck. She felt the energy begin to flow through her body and she gasped at its immense power. I’ve never felt energy like this! It’s so strong and it’s flowing into me! I can hear a voice...but it’s not Kimi this time...It’s someone else. This tree is a door, a door hidden by some sort of barrier, I can feel a strong barrier here. But how to open it? ‘Kagome you can break the barrier! Just think and do it! All you have to do is think!’ Kagome recognized Kimi’s voice. “So now you speak to me? What do you mean by just think?”

Kimi tried to pass on her message, but Kagome had unconsciously put up her wall again. The bird squawked in frustration at being blocked out. Kagome got no answer so she tried to think for herself. Damn. All I want to do is open this barrier. Huh? Kagome pulled her hand away from the tree as a sudden pulse blasted through her body. There was no physical damage, but the energy made her head spin. “What on earth?” The tree before her began to fade as the barrier crumbled. “Did...did I do that?” Kimi bobbed her head excitedly and clapped her beak with approval. ‘Yes! You just broke the barrier. Go inside, go insi-’ Her mental message to Kagome cut off again.

Oh hell! What’s got Kagome so worked up? She’s so tense and her trust is...shattered. She’s blocking me out, she’s blocking everyone out and she doesn’t even know it. I can’t talk to her if she does this. I can’t help her and explain what lies in this chamber. She’ll have to do this alone, she’ll have to think for herself instead of relying on friends to save her. Kimi sighed and left Kagome’s shoulder.

Kagome looked back as her bird settled on a low branch. Fear was building up on the inside, she felt suddenly alone. There was no InuYasha to run to this time and now Kimi was flying from her. Do I go in? Maybe Kimi’s telling me to leave this place until the others wake up. Maybe I should go and get them now... No. Whatever’s down here...It’s calling for me. Only me.

Kagome watched as two small doors replaced the tree illusion. She saw them creak open and was surprised to find a long path of blue fire inside the dim chamber. She hesitated to step in, but a powerful force overwhelmed her and she stumbled inside.

InuYasha was pale in panic when he saw the tree dissolve to reveal two hidden doors. He leapt to the ground and ran for the doors as Kagome stepped inside. Is she crazy! She’s going to get herself killed! He rushed at the doors which slowly closed behind Kagome. “Oh no you don’t!” InuYasha growled as he drew his sword and lunged at them, jamming the Tetsusaiga between them as they closed completely.

He began muscling the doors open, having to shove his sword deeper through the small crack created by think metal. “I’ll break...these doors...down if I have to!” He threw his weight at the doors and tried twisting Tetsusaiga back and forth in aggravation and fear. What was Kagome getting herself into!

Kagome was too far into the tunnel to hear the commotion at the entrance. She was being led towards the end, the bright blue flames on the stone walls lighting her way. She tripped twice on the uneven ground and cursed at her clumsiness. There was fear in the pit of her stomach and a strong feeling of aloneness in her heart. What did it matter if she was killed by whatever was leading her through this chamber? She had hurt everyone, they were mad at her and she did nothing to help the situation. I’m nothing but a burden to them. They’d be better off with out me.

The tunnel began to open up and Kagome found herself in a huge chamber also lit with blue flames. It was as if the fire was floating in mid-air. What is this place? There was the sound of a rattle...chains scraping against the stone floor of the chamber. Kagome spun to the left, trying to spot the being who had made that chain rattle. It was dark in the corner and she strained to see what was hiding there. Whatever it was, it growled deeply, the scraping of chains echoing the threat. “Whose there?” Kagome squeaked out. Fear grabbed at her throat.

The mysterious beast hissed and stepped closer into the light, its chains jingling at every step. Kagome gasped as she recognized the form before her. “Kirara!” The Demon hissed and clawed the air. It reached the end of its chain length in one giant leap and growled, pulling and twisting in frustration at being held as a prisoner. It let out a sad groan and gave up its attempts for freedom, the chains laughing as they rattled noisily when the Demon sat down. Kagome stared at it and a wash of pity filled her. This Demon longed for freedom. She saw the thick cuffs that clamped around the Two-Tail’s legs. There was a heavy looking metal collar fastened around its neck and thick, rusted chains were connected to the cuffs and collar.

The Demon’s glowing blue eyes held a fury in them, but a tint of helplessness shadowed that pinned up fury. Kagome hesitated, taking a step toward it. Kagome what the hell do you think you’re doing! That Demon’s going to kill you! You’re stupid and foolish and beyond crazy! Gods, I’ll be lucky to get out of this alive! That thing will probably bite my head off...but I have to free it. Please let me do at least one thing right! Kagome gulped and took another step closer. The Demon eyed her and hissed, but it stayed still. Kagome dared a third and then a fourth step, counting the last minutes of her life. This is absolutely crazy!

The next thing she knew, she found herself face to face with the giant Two-Tail. It stopped hissing and sniffed the air. “Why did you come?” The Demon growled suddenly. Kagome fell back in surprise. It can speak too? “You are no more than a child, what brings you to this place? How did you break the barrier? Why do you not flee while you have the chance?” The Demon stood over her and eyed her, waiting for an answer. Kagome was too stunned to say anything. All she could do was stare.

The Demon sat back down, seeing that its posture was frightening the girl. No. This girl is a priestess. I can sense that much. But her powers are unusually strong. She was able to break that barrier. She must be the one who will end the cycle. There could be no other mortal capable with such power as she possesses. This is truly amazing. I can feel the power, her energy. That’s what broke the spell, what woke me from the slumber. She must possess Alana’s Power. But she’s so young...

“Priestess. You heard my calling. I ask that you free me from my chains. You broke the barrier so you can break the chains that have bound me here for so long.” Kagome nodded, her body shaking all over. The Demon before her was terrifyingly large, and its eyes were burning holes through her flesh. But she managed to gather some courage and clumsily pulled her legs up under her and stood to face the Demon once more. Kagome reached for the right front cuff as the Demon held it out for her. The Miko prayed for some miracle because she had no idea as to how she had broken that barrier. Please just break it! I did it once, I can manage a second time...some how...

Kagome imagined in her mind what she wished would happen. She saw the cuff clamped around the wrist of the Demon and she imagined it falling off as if a key had been used to unlock it. The cuff instantly fell to the floor. “Ah! That’s it! You learn fast my girl. Try it a second time.” The Demon held out her other front paw and Kagome repeated what she had imagined in her mind, the cuff falling to the ground like the first one. She was truly amazed that she had done it. “How did I do that?”

The Demon looked at the shocked Priestess with amusement. “You have much to learn, this is only a simple task. You will be taught greater things one day and master your true potential powers.” Kagome looked at the Demon a little confused. “You’re not the first one to mention that...” The Demon only turned to the side to have Kagome remove one of the back cuffs. It was music to the ears to hear the metal clang to the ground.

She unlocked the last foot cuff and began to work on the collar, hesitating a moment. This is the only thing keeping this Demon from harming me. If I free her...she might turn on me and that will be the end of everything... Should I? Even though her brain argued that point, Kagome found her hands on the base of the heavy collar. She again imagined the massive thing falling free from the Demon’s neck and the next minute it snapped and joined the rest of the chains on the floor. She stepped back as the Demon leapt up and shook as if just finishing a swim. “Finally! I can move again! Freedom! It must be true! You priestess, the Lady Kagome, you are something special! Call me Sierra, I am in your debt. If ever there is trouble in your path, shoot an arrow high above the clouds and I will come, I give my word! We shall meet again.”

Sierra gave a deafening roar and charged for the entrance, leaving Kagome dumbfounded in the dark chamber. InuYasha had just burst through the door when he saw a Demon fly past him. He turned as it vanished, its speed too fast for even his demonic eyes to catch. “Kagome!” He dove into the chamber, running as fast as his legs would allow until he saw Kagome’s slumped figure sitting dazed on the damp floor. There was no scent of blood. She wasn’t attacked. Thank the gods! What an idiot! I’ll wring her neck for this!

InuYasha open his mouth to chew her out, but held his breath when she looked up at him. “I’m sorry...” She whispered. She knew he had been worried, his face was a dead give-away. Why is it that when I think I’m doing something right, it all goes wrong? I worried him again, he’s mad at me. I hate it when he’s mad at me. InuYasha took a breath to calm his jittery nerves, rethinking his previous verbal beating. “Mind telling me what this was all about?” He tried to use a calm voice.

Kagome shook her head. “I don’t know... It was like she called me here. There was a strong flow of energy that led me here and I found this place. The Demon calls herself Sierra. She spoke of things that make no sense to me...like Kimi and Kikyo... I’m so confused and can’t pick up the pieces. Damn it all! I can’t even hear Kimi anymore! I just want it all to go away, to disappear... I should have been in Ayume’s place! She didn’t deserve to die...it’s my fault...”

InuYasha knelt down pulled Kagome to him. “No. It’s not your fault. These thing just...happen and there’s nothing you can do about it. The only thing you can do is move on. That’s what my mother wanted and even though it hurt...I fought to survive...on my own...for her. There was no one to help me, but there is someone here to help you... Kagome I know you’re hurting inside, but I’m right here hurting with you...I hurt when I see you cry, when I see you in pain. I wish I could take it all away, but I can’t. I can’t help you if you push me away...” Kagome sniffed, listening to InuYasha’s soft voice, a voice she had never heard before, one only for her.

He’s hurting because I am? I don’t think that’s the only thing hurting him. This brings up his past...and he’s talking so openly about it. He’s trying to help me by using himself as an example, but at the same time he’s hurting himself...for me. InuYasha, I’m not trying to push you away... InuYasha cut off her thoughts as he gently scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get out of this mucky place...” Kagome nodded in agreement. She suddenly felt warm inside, no longer alone. “Thank you.” InuYasha looked down at her as he walked quietly down the dimly lit tunnel towards the entrance. “For what?” “For coming for me, for caring.” Kagome whispered. She couldn’t bring herself to meet InuYasha’s eyes.

“I would never leave you alone...I told you that. When did I ever leave you in the dark?” “Never...you’re always saving me...Other wise I would have been killed long ago...” InuYasha tightened his hold around her in a possessive manner. “No Demon or human will lay a claw or finger on you...” Kagome had to smile at that true statement. InuYasha reached the tunnel’s end and stepped out into the night. His senses told him that morning was still a few hours away. It seems like we were in there for at least an hour or two but only minutes have passed. This is the longest night ever...

Kagome felt the warm moisture in the air from the hot spring. She brought her eyes to InuYasha’s, realizing that she was finally alone with him, away from the others. InuYasha set her down with a sigh, his sensitive nose picking up a slight change in Kagome’s scent. He breathed in deeply, his mind remembering an old worry that had slipped away after the shooting at the reunion. Was Kagome pregnant? If he got her roused enough, he should be able to tell. Her scent would tell him if she was holding a child...But did she even want him? Kagome pulled away from him and sat down at the edge of the steaming spring. “I feel like I’m covered with grit and slime from that cave...” She tested the water with a finger.

“Can you bring me my bag?” She asked, turning to him. InuYasha stared at her before nodding. Damn. She’s going to bathe and she knows I’ll probably peak which means I can’t because she’ll ‘Sit’ me for the fun of it. She’s teasing me! He reluctantly left to fetch her bag, oddly feeling like some sort of pet doing its master’s bidding. When he returned he found Kagome already in the warm water, her dirty clothes in a pile by a large rock. InuYasha’s eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets, dieing to see her exposed flesh that lay hidden in the murky water. He ducked behind a fat bush when Kagome turned in his direction. He could hear her humming a soft tune as water splashed about from her movements.

A few minutes later, the water grew silent and InuYasha became curious as to what Kagome was doing now. He poked his head from behind his bush but saw nobody. That instantly alerted him into thinking that something was wrong so he crept to a closer tree to get a better look, still not seeing Kagome. He found himself at the water’s edge when a head suddenly popped up from beneath the water, making him jump in surprise. He lost his balance on the slippery bank and fell in face-first. Kagome yelped, not expecting someone to be there, when she saw a drenched Half-Demon clawing to the surface, his silvery hair sticking to his face and kimono. He looked up at Kagome, sighing in relief that she hadn’t disappeared and blushing at standing in waist deep water a few feet from a bare woman, his woman.

Kagome squeaked and used the murky water to hide herself, not sure of what she should do. Her instincts said to yell and chase him away, but she bit her tongue. He’s seen me before...and he loved me, why do I feel so embarrassed to be naked in front of him? Hmm... Look at him. He’s soaked. It reminds me of when I found him on my window sill...

InuYasha turned away when he saw Kagome trying to hide herself in the water. He stumbled to the bank waiting for a ‘Sit!’ to ring through his ears. His body was a bundle of nerves as he managed to climb onto solid ground. “Wait!” Kagome called jumping out of the water in her haste. “Please stay with me...” InuYasha spun around at her words, wishing she had said them sooner. It made him wonder why they both felt so shy in front of each other in these situations. He longed to touch her skin again.

“Don’t leave me alone...you said you wouldn’t...” Kagome slowly slid back into the water. Her mind was a mixed up jumble. Seeing InuYasha in wet clothes made her body thrum with desire as it remembered things from a past night. She was dieing to have him, love him.

InuYasha swallowed his nerves and sat down at the water’s edge, waiting for Kagome’s permission to join her in the spring. He didn’t want to make her think he was another letch like Miroku, even though he wanted to just jump in and take her on the spot. He knew that he had to be gentle and that was the hard part. “If you want me to stay...then I will...” Kagome could hear the need in his voice that he tried to mask the best he could.

She ducked under the water, the heat of it burning her face, clearing her cluttered mind. It made InuYasha jump back and curse when she popped up in front of him again. He sat on all fours, his face red with embarrassment at having fallen for that trick a second time. “My heart thanks you Kagome for the attack you gave it.” Kagome reached up and grabbed his wet, cold kimono, giving it a good tug to make him fall back into the water on top of her. It made him shut up and gave her a good reason to hold on to him when he surfaced.

“You’re going to get sick in a wet kimono InuYasha. I told you that before...” Kagome said, her face tinted red again. “Feh. You forget who you’re talking to.” InuYasha spat a piece of hair from his mouth, Kagome helping him get the rest of his long strands out of his face. “It doesn’t matter who you are or whether you’re a Half-Demon or full Demon or human... you can still get sick.” She said, gazing at his eyes intently. She had him cornered between her and the bank. InuYasha saw this and eyed Kagome’s hands as she pulled the last bit of lock behind his twitching ears. He gulped, struggling to keep in control of himself, feeling a throbbing pain below. “Well this is interesting...arguing in a hot spring...like this...I mean with you...”

Damn. All I want to do is kiss her, I can’t wait any longer...If she pushes me away...no I won’t think about that. Just do it like before, she wants you, that’s why she’s playing around and pulled you under in the first place. She’s waiting on me. Kagome found herself in InuYasha’s arms the next moment, locked in a breathtaking kiss that made her melt from the inside out. She gasped as her body responded to his heated kiss, her heart speeding up and crawling up into her throat. She found her hands tearing at his kimono that refused to unglue itself from his skin. He helped her as he kissed her again, barely giving her time to take a breath.

His kimono was flung on the bank and InuYasha grabbed Kagome in his arms, climbing out of the water and laying her on top of it. He never let her lips go for more than a second, his tongue forcing its way through them to tickle and caress the sensitive flesh inside. His hands began roaming her curved body, making her shudder and tremble beneath him. Kagome used her hungry fingers to caress his chest, running them over his wet shoulders and neck. She moaned when she felt a hand capture her breast, claw tips kneading the nipples as they pebbled into hardness.

InuYasha was still in control of his lust that was building every second. He released her lips and moved to her exposed neck, nipping at the flesh as her gasps and busy fingers fueled his burning desires. He didn’t want to hear just moans and small gasps. He wanted to hear her cry out in pleasure, calling his name as he filled her again and again, plunging deeper with every thrust. It was almost too much to bare but he held on to that little control he had.

Kagome felt him work his way slowly down her neck, his fangs and tongue lighting her skin on fire every where they went. They arrived at her breasts, fastening on one while a free hand tormented the other one. She protested at his teasing, wanting so much more. He suckled his prize until it was swollen before moving on to the other neglected breast. His lust was blinding him, and his aggressiveness was slipping free from his grasp. Kagome gasped as he nipped at her, her flaming body too hot to feel any pain if that’s what she would have felt in other situations. She pleaded and begged for him to stop teasing, the throb between her legs growing with every heartbeat.

InuYasha silenced her with another kiss, his hands sliding down to the heart of her desires. Kagome moaned and her back arched against him as he slipped a finger between her slick folds of flesh and he began a new kind of torment, stroking her and making her shudder in pleasure. Her senses were overwhelmed and she cursed at his teasing. Her wandering hands discovered that his pants were still on, wet and cold on the outside. She worked her hands under the fabric and grabbed at his growing length, hearing him groan and rock against her in need. Kagome freed him and pushed into him, begging for the attention and pleasure he had given her that night on her birthday. InuYasha gave in and kissed her deeply as he found her entrance, thrusting slowly in with the pinch of control he still had.

Kagome answered his thrust and her free hands blindly made their way into his tangled mess of slivery hair, the damp strands veiling a curtain of white around her face in the night. InuYasha kept at a slow pace, not satisfied with her gasping moans that echoed his thrusts. He dove deeper, rewarded with growing cries that began eating away the last bit of sanity in his system. Kagome was beginning to pant as he sped up, thrusting deep and filling her again and again until she was on the verge of tears. She gripped his head as he kissed her, releasing her lips when his lungs screamed for air a second later. His vision was blurry has he fell into a fast rhythm, his senses drunk with her scent and overthrown with lust.

Kagome suddenly arched and her body shuddered as she cried his name out, loud enough to wake the dead. She clung to him as she rode out the pleasure created with every thrust, her lungs working double time to keep up with her exercise. InuYasha felt his climax racing towards the finish line. He growled and bit his lip with one last thrust, spilling his seed into her, his body thrumming with completion. Kagome cried out with him and went limp as he slumped to the side to keep from collapsing on her. They both lay panting, their hearts racing the minutes away.

InuYasha recovered his normal breathing and gathered the strength to sit up beside a gasping Kagome. He leaned over her and kissed her forehead, resting a hand over her speeding heart as she struggled to gain a normal beat. “You can relax, Love.” He whispered from his soft kisses that rained down on her face. “I’m…trying…to…” Kagome smiled and hid her face from him, nuzzling his neck as he settled beside her again. Her heart swelled at the name he gave her, the one he had used before, wanting to hear more of it.

She slowly caught her breath, her tingling body refusing to move when she tried to cuddle closer to her lover. InuYasha helped and wrapped his hands around her, hugging her tightly. He nipped at her neck in a teasing manner as they lay bare with each other on the grassy bank of the hot spring. Giggles escaped into the night as Kagome batted at him and she kissed him softly.

Shift...

Sierra charged at full speed, her mind set on home. She was free again. She would see her kin and regain her position as the Valker Leader, even if she had to fight and possibly kill for it. Home. Something I thought I had seen the last of. But that was my choice. I gave myself that punishment in order to save the Valker Clan. I was foolish but I don’t regret it now. When that spell was cast on me to send me into eternal sleep, I countered it with my own powers. The next High Priestess would break the spell and free me. I did it on impulse when He threatened to eliminate the Clan and I thought it would never come to pass. But there she was. Right before my eyes. The High Priestess of the Valker. The one who has the power to take Him down, She will end this endless cycle once and for all. And we can live in piece.

The Two-Tail lunged on through the forest, stretching unused muscles, feeling the coolness of the tickling breeze that caressed her face. The whistling wind in her ears was a welcoming sound. That girl was traveling with others. I saw another person at the entrance, another Demon I think... Or was that the scent of a Half-Demon? And there was that bird. I could hear the thing screaming a mile away, trying to get that girls attention. I believe the priestess’s name was...Kagome? Yes. That’s the one. The High Priestess Kagome. Our Lady. The one that must be taught who she really is. But not yet. She’ll find us when she’s ready to learn more about her powers. That pain I felt. It was hers. Her pain broke the spell and woke me. She’ll begin to use unknown powers unconsciously and that bird will lead her to us. I don’t know how...but I’m sure of that much.

Sierra leapt over a large fallen log and took in the scents around her. Home! The Priestess Village is up ahead. I wonder if those old fools still have the Demon barrier up. Those cowards. They are terrified of Demons yet they claim to be the best training village in all Japan. How pathetic! They fear change for crying out loud. Well, let’s see how much change has passed in the course of 54 years...though I doubt there will be none if those snobby children are the old hags running the place now.

Sierra found the old worn path that led to the entrance of a well hidden village. As she had expected, a Demon barrier shielded the entrance. She sighed and began to exercise her energies, calling on the element of water to aid her. Sierra scratched the ground with her claws and growled a spine tingling command, a small stream of gurgling water sprouting up from her scratch marks. She controlled the water’s path with her mind, telling it seep harmlessly under the barrier as it was only water and not a giant Demon like herself. The water triggered an alarm on the other end and she roared, shaking her head, her blue eyes glowing a furious blue as she called upon greater powers of her element. She commanded the trickling stream to split and flood the ground around her and the earth beneath her feet began to tremble in protest. Just the answer she had been waiting for…

So...Fell has come to investigate the intrusion. This shall be interesting. The earth rumbled and shook, but Sierra didn’t slip or lose her footing, the stream of water she had created flooding the ground and pooling around her feet. The ground became silent for a second before a large cloud of dirt and sand erupted in front of her, a roar challenging her behind the dust. “Who goes there?” It growled as the cloud cleared, revealing another Two-Tail like herself. “You dare to break the barrier? I’ll kill you!” Sierra recognized one of her kin’s voice and she chuckled. “Ah Fell. You were always so temperamental...it would figure that they would put you in charge of this rusty old barrier. Well, you seem to be doing your job if you felt my signal and came to investigate.” The Demon’s jaw dropped as Sierra spoke.

“What? Can’t a Demon wake up and come home after saving your hide?” “S-s-sierra! How? When did yo-? Who fre-...You’re alive? Sierra’s alive!” Fell stuttered, the ground trembling from his excitement. “Fell, pull your element together. You might be giving the humans a heart attack... They panic easily...”

End of chapter 7. Now before you all start asking millions of questions (yes I know it’s confusing please be patient with me) listen up. Chapter 8 will solve most of your questions. It will start where we let off here, and everything will fall into place. PLEASE Review :) How was the second lemon of my life? I beg for reviews! Well, what are you waiting for! Go read the next chapter!