Hey guys, yea it's been awhile. Sorry about the HUGE delay, but I promise from now on I'll be working harder to keep these chapters up. And sorry about the last chapter, I know it confused a lot of you. Sorry.

Chapter 12

Naraku smirked as he held out his hand, "Alright then, shall we?" He asked, almost politely. Kagome cautiously released him and took

one step back. "What's the matter?" Naraku asked in an annoyed tone, "Don't you want to see them?" Kagome nodded meekly, "No… I

want to, but-" Naraku interrupted, "But, what? I am giving the chance to escape and see your friends, how could you refuse?" Kagome

lowered her head, voices screaming in her mind. "They're all telling me not to, but I-" Slowing raising her head to stare him in the eye, "I

want-" One of her hands came up to meet Naraku's, "I want to see him… everyone." Naraku was inches from taking a hold of

Kagome's hand when the door to her room was kicked open. From the debris of wooden splinters flying everywhere, Sesshomaru's figure

stood. Fangs bared and snarling, "I thought I told you to stay away!" Naraku grinned, "Lord Sesshomaru, I was beginning to think you

wouldn't show. My apologies, I don't have time to spar with you. I've come on other matters," He turned to Kagome, still holding out his

hand, "Shall we?"

Sesshomaru growled, stepping forward and grabbing Kagome by the wrist. Pushing her behind him, "What did I say about touching

her?" His amber eyes flashed. In response Naraku merely snickered, "Temperamental as usual, Lord Sesshomaru. Getting so worked up,

over one girl. My, your starting to act like that brother of yours." With that Naraku threw his head back in laughter. Sesshomaru went for the

sword at his hip, "Comparing me to him will cost you your head!" Sword half unsheathed, warning, "Leave right now!" He darted towards

Naraku. In an instant Naraku's laughter stopped and he transformed into a dark mist that filled the room. "Very well…. I guess I have no

choice. Kagome, my dear, I'm afraid we'll have to do this another time. Whenever you feel ready, just call." His last words echoed through

the room, before the mist disappeared all together. Sesshomaru relaxed his hold on his sword and turned towards Kagome. Who seemed to

be in a daze, just staring into nothingness. He gripped her shoulder and shoke her, "Hey, snap out of it girl!" Finally she snapped back and

he removed his hand. Looking at Sesshomaru, tears swelled up in her eyes. "Stop that! Stop trying to protect me!" She yelled clenching her

fists together and beating them against Sesshomaru's chest, "Can't you ever just mind your own business? I'll do what I feel like, I don't

need you to butt in!" Tears fell down her face as she continued screaming, "I'm sick of everyone thinking I can't protect myself."

Sesshomaru just stared down at her, feeling her tiny hands pound against him. As far as pain goes, it seemed to be hurting her more than

him. Her punches slowed down, but she didn't stop. Until he caught one of her fist, and gently lowered it down. He calmly replied, "While

you are here, if it has anything to do with you it becomes my business."

"Only because I'm your trading pass! You wouldn't give a damn about me other wise." She snapped back pulling her hand away, but

Sesshomaru held a tight grip. "Wrong." Sesshomaru replied sternly glaring down at her. "Then what?" Kagome choked closing her eyes,

letting her tears fall, "What's the reason? Why do you keep doing this? Sticking up for me, spying on me, saving me… If not for the

Tetsusiaga, then what?" Sesshomaru's neutral expression faded as he bared his fangs, "You think I know? Damn it!" He released her and

ran his hand through his hair in frustration, "Before I dragged you here, I had all my priorities straight. I wanted Tetsusiaga and was going to

kill Inuyasha, that's all I thought about. But now… Damn it all!"

"And you think it's any better for me?" Kagome exclaimed, wanting to resume her assault, "You took me from everything I loved!

Then acting weird and pretending to be nice. We've both seemed to forget that we're enemies!" Again Sesshomaru was hit with an

awkward sensation, "I'm so confused, it's frustrating!" Kagome yelled "Heartless bastard! You have no consideration for the feeling of

someone else." Insulting him was enough to bring him inching towards her. "You…" Tears streaming down her face, her chokes interrupting

her speech, "Monster…" In his mind, he was telling himself to leave. Leave her to herself to and her emotions. Although his body didn't

respond, with a deep breath he stepped forward, bringing her into his chest. Kagome eyes widened, to her surprise her body did not

struggle. His grip gentle but firm and in a low and tender voice he spoke, "Am I that heartless…. Is that all you can think of me as?" At that

moment, Kagome's mouth opened to say something. Nothing came… Sesshomaru loosened his grip only slightly to see her face, "Don't ask

me to explain it, but for sometime now, you've been all I've ever thought about." Kagome remained silent, what could she have said? Her

body stiffened. Eyes widened no longer shedding tears. Sesshomaru was never the type to open up or confess anything about himself, he

wasn't even sure if he had ever opened up to Jaken, his most loyal servant. Why her? He asked himself over and over. Maybe it was

because she had belonged to Inuyasha, the very person he had hated his whole life. His wish to get revenge could have sparked his desire

for her. Seeing as Inuyasha desired her just as much. Or maybe perhaps a different reason all together. Maybe because of the word,

commonly used amongst humans. That four-lettered word, that expressed an emotion held between two people. Not once has that word

escaped his lips. He never expressed such an emotion onto another, nor did another present it to him. Not wanting the company, always

finding him alone. Thus, creating a gap of emptiness. Snapping from his train of thought, he stared into her face. He watched as her

expression showed more and more of her confusion. If she only knew… He smirked inwardly, I am just as confused as she is…He

moved his hand up to her face. Trailing a finger down the side of her cheek, finally taking that whole side of her face in his hand. Feeling her

warm, smooth skin against his palm. Whatever this is…He thought leaning down to see her at eyes level, I hate it… He leaned closer to her

face, bringing his lips to hers.

What's going on? Kagome thought as she was brought closer to Sesshomaru. This was far from his normal attitude. Her heartbeat

had quickened ten-fold in a matter of seconds. She had just be brought into Sesshomaru's embrace, a powerful one at that. Face planted

firmly into his chest. Not knowing what to do, she remained completely stiff. Realizing a familiar situation such as this, fear spread through

her body. Will he… do as Naraku planned to do? No. No! Oh god no, not again! Then her body shoke and she began to struggle. She

wanted to cry, cry out for Inuyasha. Praying that he would come and save her. -not coming for you… In her mind she heard Naraku's

voice, but seeing Sesshomaru mouthing the words. He's not coming for you…Right when she was about to scream, she felt his grip loosen

and she was slowly pulled away from him. Confused beyond belief, she raised her head. What she saw caused her eyes to widen and almost

collapse. Kagome looked into the eyes of Sesshomaru, and unlike Naraku's which were tense, lustful and overpowering. Sesshomaru's

were as soft as she'd ever seen them. His ever popular, I'll-kill-you-you-filthy-human glance was gone… Soft, bright amber eyes returned

to meet hers. And that's not all….

Raising his hand to her face he leaned down, taking her lips with his. This time she was really about to collapse, What's happening? A
dumb question, she knew exactly what he was doing, Kissing me! Sesshomaru is kissing me! Through all her silent ranting she didn't

bother to resist, giving Sesshomaru the opportunity to deepen the kiss. He was indeed enjoying himself, he had to admit. But he sighed

inwardly, thinking it was the appropriate time to end all contact with her. Ignoring his hunger for more, he pulled back until he felt it. Slowly

Kagome was pushing towards him, returning the kiss. He has such warm lips He was taken back by her bold moves. As shocked as he

was, he didn't refuse the given opportunity to take another step. Closer he came to her, hand moving behind her neck lips pushing against

hers. Sesshomaru's moves were so inviting, and warm. A gentleness she though never existed within him, was not something that is just to be

ignored.

I can't seem to get my mind straight. He's my enemy, and more importantly Inuyasha's brother. Kagome closed her eyes tightly,
but Inuyasha hasn't embraced me like this. Ever… Kagome's arm came behind Sesshomaru and latched themselves tightly around him.

Just this once, can I pretend that someone loves me?

Sesshomaru allowed Kagome's limbs wrap around him. He took it as a compliment as a matter of fact. Keeping his lips to hers, his

arm fell to her shoulder. Both seemed content for the moment, but a shriek tore them out of the moment. "Lord Sesshomaru!" It was

Jaken's voice, carried through the halls. With that Sesshomaru showed no hesitation to rip himself from Kagome. He turned abruptly

towards the door, putting his hand on the wooden knob and thrusting the door open. Only to here Jaken call for Sesshomaru again, except

this time in a higher pitch. He then dashed down the hallway, leaving Kagome standing mentally and physically unbalanced. She slunk to the

floor, everything was happening so fast. She couldn't keep up. Kagome ached as she felt her heart being torn. One for Inuyasha, the

senseless half demon half human whom she met long ago. From the very beginning he had always been protecting her, and secretly she loved

every since their first encounter. By this time, she could not stop the tears, "I'm sorry…" She wept, "I'm so sorry Inuyasha… I've betrayed

you. Cause I do… I do…….Sesshomaru." She saw Inuyasha gentle face, right next to it Sesshomaru with a cold expression. He had still

been mysterious to her, but slowly she was beginning to understand him. Sesshomaru. The next thing she saw was two strong blades

crashing into another. With Inuyasha and Sesshomaru at both ends. She whimpered, until a thought hit her.

"Oh, if only you could see your beloved Inuyasha's face. Sad, lonely, weak… pathetic face," It had been Naraku's voice.

Watching and cueing from afar, "I never would have imagined he'd become so weak to be defeated so easily," It was the next

statement that he made, that scared her the most, "but with a rage like Sesshomaru's what would you expect…" Naraku had always

been a conniving, cold-hearted crook but Kagome could sense truth in what he said. Though she didn't exactly believe him, but she was

curious. It was possible, Kagome was unsure of Sesshomaru whereabouts every moment. Especially the times when she had lost

consciousness.