A/N: This is rewritten enough to need to be read again if you have read the last version of this. I just didn't like it, I had no connection but a simple rewrite gave it the spark I felt was missing. I will not tolerate flames but I appreciate constructive criticism. I hope you enjoy and I apologize for any grammatical errors.

Chapter One

It was in a moment of reflection that Kagome realized that she was tired. She was so very tired of the constant fighting for her life and trying to outrun death. The adventure that she had set out on four years ago had long since lost its appeal, leaving her to resent her duty just as Kikyou had when her heart still beat. If not for the damned jewel she wondered what her life would have been. She probably would have graduated with honors. She would most likely be in college, living the life her mother had dreamed for her when she was born.

It was nice to imagine that world but at the same time it was heartbreaking. That life that she could have led wouldn't have had Shippou, Sango or Miroku. That life wouldn't have had Inuyasha. She would have been a very different person than who she had become. Less mature most likely, very materialistic and most of all—weak. Kagome had grown up a long time ago and though it saddened her to know that the person she was, was not who her mother had once envisioned her to be, she was proud of herself. She was a little rough around the edges, a little jaded yes, her vocabulary left much to be desired thanks to a certain hanyou, but she was strong. The naïve little school girl who had been so enraptured by the fairy tale world was no more, in her place stood a confident and self-aware young woman who could hold her own against any demon. She certainly gave Kikyou a run for her money. As she adapted to the Feudal era and its ways she soon learned that she didn't function quite as well as she once had in the time she was born to. She had been conditioned by the old world and despite its danger it charmed her with its beauty and simplicity.

Kagome lifted her head towards the twilight sky and let out a deep sigh. She had changed drastically as had the small shard hunting group that sat in the valley beneath the hill she stood upon. They all had grown not only as a unit but as individuals. No matter how the journey ended the people who had stood beside her in battle and with her as she fought her inner demons would never leave her. They each held a piece of her and without them she would be lost. She knew despite her daydreams of a different world that if given the choice she would choose the life that allowed her to stand beside such amazing people. She never struggled with who she had become, her struggle with herself right now was the caged feeling that she had been fighting off for months. The restlessness inside of her made her doubt her place in both worlds, she had never longed for anything as she did this nameless need inside of her.

The yearning she felt was indescribable, she could feel a tugging in her heart as if there was a physical cord around it trying to drag her away from both of the families she adored. After months of desperately trying to ignore it, it had become a craving deep in her soul that was constantly fighting its way into her conscious thoughts. It was nearly primal, untamed enough for Kagome to fear it.

She turned her head towards the only tethers she had that were keeping her sane. Her friends remained unaware and they would remain so unless absolutely necessary. They had enough problems to deal with, one of those problems sat high up in the branches of a tree staring at her with unfocused eyes. Her best friend met her gaze in the fading light and when Kagome refused to look away his top lip raised to reveal his sharp fangs.

For months, nearly as long as Kagome had been dealing with the pull inside of her, Inuyasha had been battling with something inside of himself as well. It had not been so obvious in the beginning but it was noticeable enough for Kagome to worry. He had always been a little possessive and a lot protective, it had always made her feel safe, but then his possessiveness began to grow. The problem was that Kagome refused to be anybody's possession, she was not an object or a prize to be won and she would not be treated as such. His behavior was making the feminist she didn't know existed inside of her roar out in rage. He had a problem with her walking in front of him, eating before him, or making any decision without his consent. Kagome was a lot of things, she could be a bitch at times and she had a temper that seemed unparalleled, but she was certainly not a doorstep. She had to constantly let Inuyasha know that he had no power over her or any of her actions.

So as she watched her best friend growl at her instead of quivering in fear she snapped her teeth together and stared him down. Kagome wanted her friend back, not the unrecognizable hanyou who scared her. It was not beneath her to use the subjugation beads on him and when she caught a glimpse of red bleed into gold she lifted her chin and with no hesitation whatsoever she spoke the one word that would bring him and his attitude crashing down.

Kagome made her way down the hill and toward the hanyou sized crater, "I don't know what you are going through and I don't know what game you are trying to play, but Inuyasha...leave me out of it. If you don't figure out a way to control yourself you're going to end up having to find your pretty little corpse to search for your precious fucking shards."

Ignoring his muttered curses she went to sit next to Miroku and Sango who watched their little drama with knowing eyes. Letting out a bone tired sigh Kagome dropped down beside them, her arms stretched out behind her to support her weight. Tilting her head back and to the side to look at them she sounded miserable as she asked, "What is wrong with him? I just don't understand. I am about ready to see how many times I have to S-I-T him straight to hell."

Miroku tilted his head at the same angle as hers and studied her with kind violet eyes. He was a very handsome man, one of the most handsome human men she had ever met. Sango was a very lucky woman. "He is our friend but Kagome, he is also a demon. The answer you're looking for is not one we can give."

Kagome turned back to the red clad hanyou and watched as he pushed himself up and stalked off deeper into the forest. "I'm scared for him, "she whispered as if to herself, "and I'm terrified that I am handling this situation wrong. Is...is fighting off his dominance worth it if he is going to lose himself?"

They all stared into the orange flames that danced around them, creating a backdrop of flickering shadows. It remained silent for several minutes until the youngest of their group nervously made his way onto Kagome's lap. Shippou played with the end of his tail before finally and nervously giving his own advice. "It's dangerous to deny him your submission...he isn't safe and he is not in control...that is why it's even more dangerous to let him have power over you. Kagome, he isn't our Inuyasha right now and we can't forget that. We also can't help him if he won't let us help him."

Shippou looked up at Kagome with his big viridian eyes with an intensity that reminded Kagome that though he was a child in situations like this, he was invaluable. Kagome trusted his insight and gave the little kitsune her thanks with a tender hug before looking up and into the forest after her troubled friend.

A shiver ran down her spine as she felt the restlessness inside of her build up...someone was watching her. She had never felt so much like prey as she did in that moment. Whoever was out there she knew for a fact that it wasn't Inuyasha. She straightened her spine and slowly scanned the area with narrowed eyes, silently challenging the stranger to come into the light. Soon after the feeling began to ease but it didn't disappear. It never truly left her.

~oOo~

Sesshoumaru's head tilted in lupine curiosity as he watched the beautiful human priestess march down the hill to the prone form of his half breed brother. Her long thick raven colored hair lifted in the wind like a silk banner and her pale porcelain cheeks were tinged pink with temper. She was absolutely exquisite. This human had captivated him and it was unusual seeing as not so very long ago he would have killed her without a moment's hesitation or an ounce of regret. It was not difficult for one such as him to understand that she was no longer the simple child that had dared to stand before him as if she was his equal. No...it was not difficult at all to see that something inside of her had changed and it called out to him in the most visceral of ways. In a way that he had never experienced before.

The beast who he controlled inside of him was lured in by her and her beguiling ways. The very beast inside of him that despised all things human and who had barely begun to accept Rin wanted the miko and was making it incredibly difficult to stay away from her. Controlling himself became nearly impossible when the hanyou discovered his fascination, and it seemed that Inuyasha was having trouble dealing with what he knew was inevitable. In his desperation to keep Kagome close to him he managed to push her away and in turn was losing himself.

The Tetsusaiga was his tether to sanity but as Inuyasha grew stronger the tether weakened. The part of the hanyou that was still lucid was trying to fight the battle going on inside of him on his own but it was futile. His father's blood would prove dominant in the end. The miko's constant refusal to bow to him did not make it any easier on the hanyou, though Sesshoumaru more than admired her strength. He would be the only dog she would ever submit to.

His beast growled low in agreement, Kagome made him want things that long ago he had told himself that he could do without. It was something he had denied himself for far too long...a pack. The archaic need for submission. Peace. Only Kagome would do, she was his equal now...only she was worthy. She was perfection. She would fight both he and his beast and he looked forward to her pretty little neck being bared willingly to his fangs.

He took in a deep growling breath when Kagome's hypnotic azure eyes unknowingly met his. He would not be able to stay away from her for very much longer. He wanted her, the human miko who was born to be an enemy to demons, as his mate. His soul responded to her restless call and she would soon be his.

A/N: I hope you liked it. I cannot tell you how much I love reviews, so please let me know what you think.

-Inari