Prophecy

"Inu-Inuyasha?" Kagome managed to stutter, bewildered. This wasn't right - he was supposed to be in Hell, with Kikyo, right? Instant rage welled within her, mingled with sorrow. He'd left her for the dead miko, she'd been marked by his half-brother Sesshomaru to fulfill some stupid prophecy, and now they could never be together. Reaching up, she moved her hand towards his face, warm amber eyes positively glowing with love.

A loud 'smack!' resounded throughout the clearing.

"What the hell woman!" Inuyasha cried out, holding his stinging cheek. He'd expected her to be upset, maybe shed a few tears, but a slap definitely wasn't on the itinerary! She glared blue-tipped daggers.

"Yea, Inuyasha! What the Hell! Speaking of, isn't that where you're supposed to be? With a certain dead miko we all know and hate?"

"Does Rin know any dead mikos?" The little girl looked up at her adoptive father in puzzlement.

"Hush, Rin." Sesshomaru placed a comforting hand on the mess of black hair. He was definitely enjoying this little reunion. Neither Kagome nor Inuyasha paid them any attention.

"About that..." The hanyou scratched his head, grinning in embarrassment. "Ya know, Hell's relative."

"Spill it!"

"Alright! Damn! I never actually went to Hell with Kikyo." Kagome opened her mouth in fury. He hurried on. "I know I lied to you! But it wasn't like that! I only said that because ... because...I had this nice little spot picked out in the forest, a clear spot for a home...for the two of us." He offered an apologetic smile. "I wanted to surprise you."

In disbelief, Kagome stared at him. He really thought that would have pleased her? Left alone, believing he'd abandoned her for the woman she reincarnated. Oh no, Kagome was not pleased.

"SIT! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!" Kagome was near breathless with her 'sit' commands. By the time she was through, the crater she'd created could have housed Sesshomaru's giant dog form quite comfortably. Rin, sitting at Sesshomaru's feet, yawned loudly.

"Alright, Kagome!" came the distant echo from Inuyasha. "You've made your point." Gingerly, rubbing his head, he crawled over the lip of the hole. "I know that you're angry, but if you'll just - "

"Angry!" The hanyou winced at her tone. "What did you expect! That you'd suddenly just appear after you left me a month ago to go to Hell to be with another woman, and I'd fall into your arms, forgiving you everything? Reality check, Inuyasha! A lot has happened in a month." She stole a glance at the impassive daiyoukai, who returned her gaze with indifference. "A lot."

Finally taking notice of the presence of his half-brother, Inuyasha growled, flexed his claws. White dog ears flattened against his head, preparing for a fight.

"What are you doing here, you bastard!" He bared his fangs. Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow.

"Merely watching the interaction between this one's mate and a worthless hanyou."

"Mate?" Inuyasha looked around, confusion evident on his features. "Since when do you have a mate?

"Since this one found a lonely miko moping over a stupid hanyou." He pressed his fingertips to his lips in thought. "Does this sound familiar?" Incredulous, Inuyasha spun around to face Kagome, horror vying with angry disbelief. She wouldn't...would she? His laughter at the idea choked off when he saw the shameful look on Kagome's face. She did.

"You let Sesshomaru bone you?" Disgust dripped from his words. Flushing, Kagome put up her hands.

"No, of course not! How could you ever think such a thing! Me..Him....Oh God no!" Mentally the young woman wretched. Rin tugged at her hand.

"Kagome, why does Lord Sesshomaru want to take your bones?" It took several moments for Kagome to decipher the young girl's words. She meant bone a fish, not...Smiling, the miko patted the girl's small hand, not replying.

"This Sesshomaru has done more than that."

"He's lying!"

"She begged him all night for more after he'd marked her."

"What!"

"She pleaded, desperate for more - "

"You damn pervert!" Scowling darkly, Kagome covered Rin's ears with her hands. "He bit me, that's all! Nothing else, and I'd appreciate it if he'd tell the truth!" Sesshomaru gave a long suffering sigh."

"This Sesshomaru understands, mate. Never one to kiss and tell - or scream and moan, for that matter." Inuyasha shook his head.

"No, this can't be. It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Angrily, he raised a fist towards his half-brother. "She was supposed to be mine! I love her! You could never appreciate her like I can! Like I do!" Kagome felt tears form in her eyes at the emotion in his voice.

"Oh, no, Inuyasha. You could never fully appreciate her like this one has." He smirked cruelly. Kagome resisted the urge to kick him.

"Inuyasha, listen." Prying her hand from Rin's, the miko went over to her suffering friend. Her heart refused to break at the sight of his sorrowful eyes. He'd made her suffer enough in the past. Her heart couldn't shatter anymore. Placing her hands on his broad shoulders, Kagome gazed into his eyes, ignoring the sudden spike of jealousy from the kizuna.

"What Sesshomaru and I have isn't real." Something inside her jolted; she ignored it and continued. "He marked me by accident. We were...never mind. The point is, he and I don't care for each other in the slightest, and we've never done that, either. I'm only helping him find his other partner, the one who'll give him pups. He's agreed to remove the mark when we find her. That's all."

"I think they have a name for people who conduct that kind of business." His eyes were hard suddenly, like steel. She caught her breath.

"You know me better than that." Her voice was soft, gentle. She's hurt him, not realizing how deep the wound went. Her eyes were beseeching. He wanted to say no, to leave, turn his back on those stormy blue eyes forever. He traced a finger along her jaw, his skin prickling. He glanced over at Sesshomaru.

"Yea yea, but it's him I don't trust. I'll come with you. I don't want him to take advantage of you if I can stop it. We'll find a way to get that mark off you. Then, we can be together." She found that she couldn't smile, so instead she nodded.

 

They spent the next day in tense company. Kagome smiled at Inuyasha's affections, feeling a semblance of normality. She shut off her mind to the kizuna, ignored the burning in her chest. It would all be over soon, she told herself firmly. Sesshomaru would be out of her life forever, and things could finally be the way they were meant to be.

Sesshomaru was becoming more spiteful by the hour. He took every opportunity to embelish his claims on Kagome's virginity, and for the life of him he didn't know why. Part of him felt that he should have been grateful to his half-brother. Once he had his breeding partner, the problem of the miko would be solved. None had to know she carried his mark. She could have the hanyou, and they'd never have to interact again.

The thought brought him no comfort as he led them closer to their destination.

He knew the location of the cave which Inuyoko spoke of. Hidden deep in a thicket of shrubs and thorn-bushes, it's entrance was nearly obscured by plant life. The yawning black maw came into view as soon as they parted the thistles.

"Looks fun," Inuyasha said, flexing his claws.

As soon as the words left his mouth, a figure moved in the darkness ahead. Rin squeaked, clasping Kagome's hand tightly. Kagome held on. She felt an instant aversion to this new character, and hoped she'd be gone from his presence soon.

Standing at least ten feet in height, a man strode into the speckled light. Everything about him was white, from his arching horns down to his curled-toe boots. Two pink eyes - the only spot of color he had - glared at them in challenge.

"Who dares?" His voice was a deep baritone, thunder in a clear sky. He carried no weapons, though Kagome felt he needed none. Sesshomaru addressed him coldly.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Kames." His own tone was like mountain snow. "Inuyoko gave the direction. The ring, miko." Turning when she did not immediately appear at his side, he saw her huddling with Rin behind a scowling Inuyasha. He paid no heed to the intense fear pouring from the bond. Marching forward, he grasped her by the hand and dragged her before the bull-youkai. "Observe."

Kames took one look at the full-finger ring, and a smile split his huge face in a most hideous manner. Kagome shrank back. The smile didn't even come close to those eyes.

"Forgive me, Master," he said, his tone all sincerity. "Pass, of course!" Graciously, he bowed to the side. Almost pulling her, Sesshomaru led Kagome closer to the grasping darkness.

"Hold!"

"Get yer hands off me, freak!" Kagome glanced behind her.

"Only the two shall enter, hanyou. You and the young must remain outside, or the she will not appear."

"The hell I will!" Scowling, Inuyasha moved to push past Kames.

"Inuyasha, just stay outside with Rin, alright?"

"But - !"

"Don't worry, hanyou. This Sesshomaru will take good care of his mate," Sesshomaru interrupted, smirking. Huffing, Inuyasha sat down at Kagome's shivering nod. Rin plopped on his lap, nestling into his chest. Some distance away, Kames lowered his bulk to the ground, suddenly interested in nothing besides his hands.

Darkness pressed in on them from all sides, oppressive and dank. Kagome couldn't contain her shivering. An intense cold encircled her body, as if trying to draw the heat into itself. Against her better judgment, the miko huddled against Sesshomaru for warmth.

"I don't like this."

"This Sesshomaru does not care for 'what you like'." Though he didn't admit it, the cave was giving him the creeps. Something about it felt - off.

"Do I have to do this?" She had to say something, or the darkness would suffocate her.

"Yes."

"Let's go back. This is - " A blaze of amber coming from her hand caught her eye. "Sesshomaru! Look!" She held up her hand. The amber stone in the silver-work of the ring glowed brightly, and hot. Kagome had trouble biting back a groan of discomfort. Depending on which direction she faced, the stone either glowed brighter or dimmed.

In silence, for no words were needed, despite the strangling darkness, the pair followed the glow deeper and deeper, until the daylight seemed only a distant memory.

The two traveled for what seemed like eons, but in reality was no more than an hour. Kagome gave a sudden, sharp cry as, by it's own accord, her hand rose to an alcove in the wall previously hidden in gloom. She tried to snatch her hand back, but her body refused to obey. Her hand seemed to have a mind of its own. It reached forward, the burning of the ring growing in intensity. Her hand was going to melt!

She grasped onto something smooth and cold. Fire flared throughout her entire body. Light emanated from every orifice, causing Sesshomaru to block his eyes. Mouth opening in a silent scream of torment, Kagome felt as if her body was being ripped apart, crudely stitched together and stuffed with filling not quite her own. Flames shot from her eyes. Her clothing burned away. She spasmed, once, twice, and fell. The last thing she heard was someone shouting her name in panic before the world faded to darkness.