An Expensive Payment by Ladyliz

Life Debt

She could feel her power draining from its strenuous use. From her demanding need to protect herself from the torturing battle. As she gathered more energy to shoot into her shield, she began to think about her last memory before her final breath.

****

Kagome Higurashi climbed out of the well with a grin on her face. She had just returned to the futal era. Walking through the quite forest, kagome smiled upon her fortune. She now had two homes, the future and the futal era. She even had two new sisters here. Sango and keikyo. She had someone who would love her truly too.

As the young miko thought about it, she was kind of disheartened. She knew that keikyo was in love with Inuyasha, yet he did not return her feelings, instead giving them to kagome. She was afraid that keikyo would hate her for this, but apparently she was wrong. Keikyo did not hate her, just envied. For this, kagome was grateful. Or at least this was what kagome thought.

As she continued on her way, kagome caught the noise of a struggle, and she heard a scream. It was keikyo. rushing toward the sound, the scene that befell her eyes broke her heart.

Keikyo had been walking through the woods, holding on to the shikon no tama for kagome, when she felt a threatening present nearby. Grabbing her bow from her back, she hurried toward the approaching demon.

She however, did not have to go far as the demon was coming toward her.

" Inuyasha, what is the matter with you?" she question quizzically.

" the shikon, give me the shikon no tama! I must have it to keep my intended from going back to her own land!"

what kagome saw

Inuyasha sat astride keikyo, searching her robes for the shikon no tama. Having not found it, he jumped to his feet to stare into the stunned face of kagome.

Taking small steps back, she turned and raced toward the well, but not before she tripped on an uprooted toot of pine tree as Inuyasha race ahead of her. Kagome, not knowing what was happening, lay on the ground dumbfounded until she felt the gently hands of keikyo on her elbows.

" It isn't what you think sister, I swear. I was collecting herbs when he attacked me, searching for the shikon. I would never betray you kagome, I promise!" cried keikyo with a fearful look of rejection on her face.

Suddenly, kagome felt a pull at her heart. Then her eyes began to blear as she felt the pull begin o hurt. Running like a bat out of hell, kagome hurried to the source of her pain. The well.

The sight that befell her eyes stunned her to the core, so much that she fell to her knees. She sat there, and watched as her love destroyed her only way back to the future, the only way back to her actual home. And he destroyed it right in front of her with the kaze no kuzo attack from the tetesiga. Dropping her head, she let quiet tears caress her delicate face.

Grinning in triumph, Inuyasha, having returned to his normal state turned to see kagome, kneeling, with tears rolling down her face.

" what have you done?" she whispered.

As she struggled to uphold the barrier, thoughts flashed through her already full mind. Thoughts like ' what did I do to deserve this?' why did Inuyasha have to destroy the dame well?'

These thoughts ran through her head as her barrier broke and she screamed in agony as the claws of a demon shredded her back. She fell in a heap to the ground and the demons at once pounced. The last thing she saw before she lost herself in darkness was a streak of silver as someone stopped to stand before her.

Sesshoumaru, lord of the western lands, stood to the side of a river, watching his adoptive girl child catch fish and dunk Jaken every once and a while. Ignoring the incessant cries of help from Jaken, sesshoumaru was caught up in his own thoughts.

His royal advisors had taken time out of their own schedules to talk to him, so he had better listen. They had said that he needed to find a mate. Not just any mate though, she had to be beautiful, and she had to be literate and well educated. They had said that if didn't find a mate before 3 months, then they would pick one for him.

So now he had no choice but to look for one. A mate that is. He sighed in irritation as he remembered the conversation. They had treated him like a child, one who couldn't gain in concept from the subject. He had stared each of his advisors in the eye, and promised them each death if they brought up the subject again. All of this in one evil glare. They had backed away from the lord with their fear multiplied by 10. He smirked.

He was dragged back into reality as he heard a human female scream. Quickly looking over toward Rin to make sure she was safe, he said to Jaken,

"look after Rin or your life will be forfeit!"

Ignoring any complaints that the toad demon had, he raced toward the source of the voice and he wasn't very surprised to see a human girl laying face down in her own pool of blood and dragon youkai gathered around her, drinking her blood and so on.

But something about the scent of the blood unleashed his blood beast and he quickly lost control of his body and mind. Unleashing his green whip, he took not only the body of the youkai, but their souls, condemning them to a life in hell. Clearly the last on was left, and as he drew the tensigia he regained control of his body. Stopping in his tracks, he thought about what he was doing. She was human after all, and he had some kind of unchecked interest that he couldn't identify. He willingly drew the Tensaiga and drew the blade across all her wounds, yet a fairly large one wouldn't go away completely. He sighed and gathered her in his arms.

Kagome woke to a rather painfully bright light. Squinting her eyes, she got used to the intense morning light.

" What in the world happened," she mumbled groggily.

Warily, she tried to stand but found it next to impossible as she felt a burning pain in her thigh. Groaning in pain, she fell back to her ass and hit the ground with a 'thud.'

" Damnation! That hurt," she groaned.

As softly as she could, she began to unwrap the wound that was keeping her from standing. As she looked at it, she sighed in defeat as the wound was festering and still rather gooey. Quietly, she rewrapped he wound in clean bandages and looked around for some sort of stick. As it was there was a rather large pile of them laying near the fire. Crawling towards the powers, she drew a knife from her boots and looked for the longest stick she could find. As she spotted it, she noticed that it was still partly alive for it had a green tint. Deeming this on worthy enough, she began to sharpen the edge until it could be stuck in the ground. Thrusting the stick into the ground, she began to climb her way to the top until she was leaning against it for support.

Eagerly, she looked around the camp for her belongings, which included a bow and a bag withholding supplies. As she noticed the dark bag against many brightly colored flowers, she caught onto the aura of a powerful demon. But for some reason, one she could not understand, she wasn't afraid of this demon. She still however readied her bow,

' just incase' she warned herself.

She however, was surprised to find herself at the base of an arm, hanging a few feet above the ground and struggling for breath.

Sesshoumaru had been on his way back to the campsite with Rin and Jaken when he noticed that the young girl was awake. Speeding ahead of the two, he covered his scent and aura as much as he could, and watched as she gathered in her surroundings. He watched as she fell to the ground and he almost chuckled at her pout. Almost. He saw her crawl over to the fire, and grab a stick as she made herself a crutch. And he watched as she aimed an arrow straight at him. Looking around him, to see if there were any other demons, he looked back at her and saw that she was looking straight at him. That really pissed him off.

The next thing he knew, he was lifting her by the throat off the ground and his eyes had gone a deadly crimson.

" wench, you dare to show this Sesshoumaru disrespect?" he growled in a deadly quiet voice.

" sesshoumaru, you ignoramus, unhand me now!" demanded kagome loudly.

" how do you know my name? And is this how you always treat the people who save your life?" he asked with a slightly amused expression on his face.

Kagome immediately dropped her head at that information. Why had he saved her? Why was he showing expression? How was she going to pay him back? That one question seemed to rumble through her mind again, as she had nothing to give. Then an old conversation with Sango. She had learned quite a few things about demons and their rituals, and that their honor was the most important thing to them. She had learned about the life-debt. It seems she had no other choice. She was brought back to reality as her body hit the ground with an 'oomph.'

Sesshoumaru was going to continue to question her when she seemed to have gone back into a revere of sorts. There was a look a confusion, thought, sadness, love, and hate. It often amazed him how many emotions a human could show in a matter of moments. Bored, he dropped the girl to the ground and went to sit by the fire.

Kagome, gathering what courage she had left, grabbed her bow and arrow. Walking over to Sesshoumaru, she dropped to one knee and held out her bow.

"Lord Sesshoumaru...you have saved my life. In a matter of honor, I wish you to accept this life debt."

Sesshoumaru carefully watched the girl out of the corner of his eye. As she grabbed her bow from her side he tensed. Crawling over to him, she held it out. The words that came out of her lips shocked him to his center.

' does this human really know what she's doing? Does she not know that she would be in debt to me as long as she lived!? What the hell is she doing? Is she trying to mock me?'

these thoughts crawled through his head as his anger began to grow. Jumping to his feet, he picked the girl up by the throat and threw her against the nearest tree.

"wench, what do you think your doing?" he growled.

" I'm offering you my life Sesshoumaru-sama. I realized from a memory that a youkia always expects to be repaid when they have done something for someone with out being asked to. As I had nothing else to give, I have offered a life debt," she cried, rising to her feet and taking a few steps forward, " please, I meant not to mock you!"

Sesshoumaru, having lost control of himself again, backhanded the girl, sending her to the ground in a heap.

Kagome, not going to let him get away with hurting her, once again put up her barrier.

" I meant no disrespect in my words you stupid mutt!! I was just repaying a debt. If you don't respect me and won't let me give the balance due, then I'll leave you alone, you ugly dog!!"

Kagome's words further infuriated the proud taiyoukai.( of course they did, what kind of person calls Sess ugly? l.o.l.) Advancing toward her , he stuck his hand out to grab her hair, but the shield instantly burned his hand. Growling in annoyance, Sesshoumaru drew the Toukijin and swiped the sword against the screen that was protecting kagome. The barrier instantly broke, and kagome began to back away, as futile as it was.

Sesshoumaru instantaneously seized her neck and brought her up to eyes level. His bloodbeast stared into her sapphire and he saw the fear and anger swelling together. He was about to start shaking her when he felt an intense burning on his hand and moving up his arms. Looking down, he saw that his entire appendage was glowing amethyst. Looking up at her eyes again, his inu began to understand that she would purify him if he didn't drop her. Needless to say, he did, and she fell to the ground with a 'oomph.'

" why you dirty mutt!! I didn't mean for you let me fall like that. I expected you to just let me land on my feet! Why can't you ---

she was interrupted from her rant when Sesshoumaru growled,

" be grateful that I don't kill you on the spot miko!"

"it's kagome you dog! KA-GO-ME! Get it right!" she yelled.

Indignant, kagome slowly rose to her feet and attempted to walk away but was stopped by the pain in her leg. Groaning in torture, she fell to her knees. Again and again, kagome continued to stand and fall until she was out of sight of the great taiyoukai.

Needless to say, Sesshoumaru was not in a good mood when Jaken and Rin caught up to him at the small camp. Jaken camp into the camp grumbling about having to watch over a filthy ningen and that if he was lord, he would kill all humans, not keep one as his ward. He instantly stopped his grousing when Sesshoumaru sent glares of death at him. The three quietly finished the day with dinner.

Kagome kept walking until she found a fresh water river. Collapsing down beside it, she cupped her hands in the water and drank thirstily. Suddenly she was consumed by sleep as she fell to the ground in a faint.

****

"Kagome, what are you talking about?" said Inuyasha fearfully.

Pointing to the well, keikyo put her other arm around kagome as a source of comfort. Inuyasha turned around apprehensively to look at the scene behind him. He quickly faced kagome with a pained look on his face.

" I did that?" he questioned.

Keikyo nodded as she continued to try and comfort her sister.

Inuyasha, walking forward toward kagome, was surprised by her sudden jerk away from him. With each step toward her, she backed away more. Tiring of this, Inuyasha raced forward and pulled her into his arms. He was suddenly pushed backwards as he felt a burning heat in the center of his chest. Looking down, he saw that kagome was trying to purify him. Gazing toward her in surprise he had a hurt look in his eyes. His silent question was to be answered.

"for years Inuyasha, I have watched and felt you hurt me. Day by day I had to watch you kiss keikyo, wishing that it was me you were kissing. I saw you make love with her. Then you almost sacrificed me to Naraku so that you could have keikyo. this is the last time you will hurt me Inuyasha. But first you must tell me why!? Why did you destroy me only way back home???" she cried in one rushing breath.

As a wicked glint came into Inuyasha's eyes, kagome took a fearful step back.

" I was fighting Sesshoumaru and I wanted to see if I could beat him so-

"You threw down the tetsusaiga!? You idiot! You could have been killed!!" whispered the girl.

"In fact, it was him that was wounded, as you can see. Leaving the battle ground, I was still consumed with demonic aura. Net even the tetsusaiga could change me!! Weirdly enough, it was your tears that changed me," he admitted before continuing, " I feel no regret for destroying the well," he sneered.

Kagome quickly notched an arrow and aimed at the inu's heart, only to be knocked down in a flash of wind. The arrow shot into the sky, exploded, and soft pink jets of purification settled around them. Looking back at Inuyasha, kagome gasped in fear, for he had Kikyo in a death grip.

" Come to me little miko, or I bread this bitchs neck!!" he snarled.

Inuyasha tightened his grip around Kikyo's neck, making her grunt in pain before he finally broke it and let her frail body fall to the ground with a resounding 'thud', causing kagome to cry out in pain.

"How could you Inuyasha!?-

she was cut of before she could finish, as Inuyasha rushed her, pushing her to the ground.

"The same way I'm going to do this," he growled as he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was not gently and passionate like it used to be, but rough and harsh.

Kagome stilled instantly as she felt his hands begin to travel down the length of her body and she knew what he now wanted. He mind filled with a silent buzzing as her fear betrayed her.

"Now, now Gome!! There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be gentle," he promised.

As subtly as her fear had come, so had her anger joined it. Had he not promised her loved her?? Hadn't he promise not to force her? All of the promises he had made to her raced through her head and she realized something. He had broken them all, just like now. This wasn't supposed to happen! No, No, No, No, NO!! And she voiced her thoughts aloud, first quietly, then she screamed it aloud.

"I said NO!"

Finally Inuyasha chose to just ignore her completely. Slowly he began to under her hakama's, but stopped, his hand on her thigh. Subtly, he lowered his eyes to his chest where he found a pair of hands glowing with purification.

"Don't make me do this Inuyasha, please!" kagome cried.

Inuyasha gingerly rose to his feet and backed away from the angered miko.

"why? Why did you lie to me? WHY?" she hollered with tears running down her face.

Inuyasha was quiet for a moment before saying in a haughty voice.

"I lied because I wanted Kikyo, only I wanted her alive. It's no fun taking someone who can't even feel anything. Plus I want her in a less developed body, one that I could easily control, and you have all of those things. Like I've always said, you are and always will be a copy of the original. Plus, Kikyo was in on the plan too," he added.

Kagome quietly notched another arrow and looked up at InuYasha with blood shot eyes.

" Inuyasha, you are the most pompous jerk I have ever heard or seen," she said before letting the arrow fly.

Pink purification powers glowed around the flying object as it sped toward Inuyasha. Jumping out of the way, he just barely avoided the arrow as it grazed the top of his shoulder. Shuddering in pain, Inuyasha looked up at kagome in surprise, before he hissed in pain and left the miko alone to slump to the forest floor.

****

Kagome woke u with a start at the sound of an eagles cry and the hustle of a rabbit running in fear of the waking human. Looking around her, kagome was amazed at the actually beauty of the place. Right beside her, there were a bunch of peonies with clovers mixed in between there stems. A Few feet away, there was a rather small ant pile with the occupants going in and out of the small hole. Looking in the river beside her, she saw little spouts of beta fish swimming with the current. She smiled at the memory it caused her to have.

Once again looking around the clearing she saw a tree with soft pink blooms hanging of the edge of the branches. A cherry tree she thought. As she looked down at her hands, she felt like she was on the verge of tears as she remembered she had a secret spot at home. A place she could never go again.

Looking down at the river, she gasped in surprise, the tears even more threatening now than before.

"Even I see Kikyo," she murmured.

But she wouldn't let the tears fall. She wouldn't be weak like Inuyasha had said she was, she wouldn't let others see her in this state. I am not weak, I am not weak, I am not....she chanted this over and over in her mind as she began to get dizzy. Slowly she went to her feet and leaned against a tree close to the river.

"I am not weak," she said in a soft voice as she fell into the river unconscious.

Sesshoumaru had been walking through the woods looking for the very upset miko when he heard a voice say,

"even I see Kikyo," and then

"I am not weak!" before he heard a huge splash.

Following the source of the sound, he found a face down kagome laying in the river, about to be rushed downstream. Acting quickly, he dragged the girl out of the river and up onto the bank. Stupid girl he thought to himself. Sniffing her over, he still found a small heart beat. Putting his hand over her forehead, he was not surprised to fell a small heat, signifying that she had a fever. Sighing in agitation, he picked the girl up and headed back to the campsite.

Looking down upon her, he was not surprised by her beauty. Much. He gazed down at her ebony tresses, wondering at how she kept them so clean. For a human that is. As he continued to walk down the path, he was wanting to know what color her eyes were. weird he thought to himself. Then he smelt it. The wonderful smell of fresh rain on a warm spring day and the blooming flowers of a cherry tree. Among all the humans, demons, and youkia, he had ever met or rather smelt, she had the most pleasing smell. This is not good. I shouldn't e thinking these kind of things about a human, especially my half-brothers wench! Sighing in exasperation, he continued ignoring the girl as he walked back to the campsite, with her in his arms.