I don’t own anything…

The Unraveling…

Sesshoumaru stood on the edge of an abyss that was as bleak and as black as his thoughta at that moment. The Demon Lord stared out into the darkness, wondering about many a thing. Like the Miko, for instance, what was her game? ‘Does she truly believe that I will just let her go off with the hanyou?’ Sesshoumaru’s mind worked its way into a silent fury. Then, the crutch of it all, a sharp intake of breath, and Sesshoumaru was back thinking about Kagome. ‘Does this Sesshoumaru harbor feelings for this Miko?’ Amidst his own thoughts, the Demon Lord’s other senses picked up on the stench of miasma floating by. It was headed in the direction of the Western castle.

Meanwhile…

Inuyasha was fascinated by this new transformation of Kagome’s. “So you do not have any demon senses?” The hanyou asked as he sniffed the air around the Miko. Kagome smiled at the impatience of her long-lost friend. “I can’t explain it, Inuyasha.” Inuyasha’s gaze turned serious as he caught a whiff of his half-brother’s scent in Kagome’s hair. “What is your relationship with Sesshoumaru, Kagome?” Kagome flushed a bit, and then mumbled out an answer, “We are merely allies, Inuyasha.”

 Inuyasha sensed the Miko’s slight change in bodily functions and growled softly. “You’re not telling me the truth. What is your relationship with my brother,” Inuyasha growled out. Kagome shifted away from the hanyou as she struggled to tell him the truth. If she got him too angry, he would revert to his demon form…and without Tetsusaiga…she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him again. But if she lied, it would only make things worse. “I…Sesshoumaru-sama is my ally, Inuyasha. I pledged my loyalty to him and I can’t go back on my word.” Inuyasha paused mid-breath. ‘She…she is…his,’ the hanyou thought. Depression once again took over Inuyasha’s thoughts. “Then, you don’t need me then.”

Tears started anew as Kagome shook her head violently. “No! I need you, Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru may have my oath, but he doesn’t own my heart.” Kagome buried her face into Inuyasha’s soft silver hair and wept. The demon features that had appeared melted away as Kagome made her decision. Inuyasha’s heart, though, still was unsure. “Kagome…” But before Inuyasha could speak, there was a shrill scream. And it came from the nursery…

Back at the cliff…

Sesshoumaru came to his senses as his nose picked up on the poisonous miasma. “Naraku…” The Demon Lord muttered and then, with a swirl of red youki, was off towards home as fast as possible.

Time stood still as Sesshoumaru landed on the balcony of his wing and followed the miasma towards the nursery…

Sesshoumaru burst the doors down and swooped in. There, on the floor, in a pool of warm blood, lay Rin’s maid, a young kitsune. Her eyes were vacant and her mouth was encased in a petrified ‘o’. But what had killed her…Sesshoumaru turned to the bed just as the last of the miasma floated out the window. Rin and the fox kit were still; no breaths came from their tiny lungs. Sesshoumaru’s heart plummeted to the floor and a wave of nausea swept over him as the first scents of death filtered through his nose.

About two seconds later, Kagome and Inuyasha entered. Kagome’s face was at first calm but then she saw the bed. “SHIPPO!!!!!!!!” the Miko cried out in agony. Kagome ran and stumbled forward until she reached the bed. Grasping the kit’s lifeless body, Kagome let loose an unearthly wail. Inuyasha stood by, just as motionless as his half-brother. But then, there was a tremendous clap of energy as Sesshoumaru’s eyes turned blood red. The Demon Lord had lost all control and leapt out the window and sped off towards the north.

Kagome did not notice Sesshoumaru leave but she had felt his release of youki. It frightened her, but deep within her, the power foretold pulsated in a furious eruption of raw emotion and rage. The demon attributes came back full force, but this time they were for real. The Shikon itself, once pink, was now a dark bluish black, overcome with hatred and vengence.

Tears running down her cheeks, the transformed Miko followed Sesshoumaru as closely as possible. All this left Inuyasha to walk over to the bed, cover up the bodies of the children; the hanyou ran into Kagome’s chambers and searched frantically for the Tetsusaiga. “Where is it? Why can’t it be here?” Inuyasha leapt out the window and headed for the forest of Inuyasha, intent on retrieving the Tetsusaiga…

ARGH!!!!!!! I can’t believe I did that…sobbing that was the hardest chapter to write! Don’t flame me that much…just trust me…