Hell Knows No Bounds by Galadrihm_Star

The fire inside her...

A.N.: Greetings, unsuspecting readers! Seeing how this is the first fanfiction I have ever written, please be gentle. I hope you like it and please feel free to review. (Please no flames. I'm hostile enough as it is with finals and all.) I'm pretty sure mistakes will be brought to my attention so revisions may be posted. This is still a work in progress. I will try to keep up on posting but my classes take a lot of time, especially with my art classes coming up soon. *gets on knees* Forgiveness is divine, people!

Hell Knows No Bounds

By Galadrihm Star

Chapter 1

The fire inside her...

Fire...everywhere. Her flesh seemed to bubble and blister yet the telltale marks never came. Bones bent and groaned with unseen force, the bellowing heat raged on. The girl kicked at the covers to try to relieve the strange fire that coursed through her blood. All she could see is red; blasts of orange, yellow, and white would flicker behind her sealed eyelids from time to time. Kagome shot up from the comfort of her small pink bed and scanned the room. The pain and heat had disappeared as quickly as it came, yet a faint tingling remained. Clutching her heaving chest, she struggled to raise herself from her bed and make her way to the bathroom down the hall. Waking up in these hot flashes, if that's what you could call them, was getting old fast.

'It's back...that's the seventh time this has happened since I've been home.'

Once happy, warm, chocolate eyes glazed over, these attacks were coming more fluently in the last couple of days. Kagome had come home to rest and prepare for the impending wedding that would take place three days from now. After three years of parading across Japan, 500 years in the past could take its toll. Naraku had been defeated and all who were under his control had been set free. Kohaku was brought back by Tenseiga after his jewel shard was removed by Naraku, a surprising act of compassion on Sesshomaru's part. Yet there were still some loose strings to tie up.

"Inuyasha..." Another sharp pain ran across her chest and spine. It was agreed that upon her return from her 'vacation' the fate of the now completed jewel would be decided. Inuyasha would demand the jewel to wish for Kikyo's life back. There was still the question of the soul the two women shared. Kagome would not deny him his wish for she still loved him despite his choice. What would happen to her once the wish was made? Would she disappear back to her time or disappear altogether? And then there was the question of another certain demon as well. Inuyasha's half-brother, Sesshomaru, had been acting strange with her as of late, almost caring. The miko from the future signed in defeat. She found the demon attractive, no doubt about that, but his lack of emotion was so unnerving. Yet there was still a glimmer of hope that he was changing; the little girl that traveled with him saw to that.

During the final battle with Naraku, Sesshomaru had shone a primal protective-side towards her, fending off attacks at her while she fired off arrows at the dark half-demon. When the dust had settled, he was the first to approach her...

*Flashback*

"Miko?" Kagome's eyes flew to the prince's molten gold. "You did well for a human...I am almost impressed." That smirk again, it always sent a shiver through her.

"Thank you for your heart-felt approval, Fluffy." The demon stiffened as Kagome flashed a sly grin of her own. Their eyes remained on each other's until a familiar smacking noise filled the air.

"YOU PERVERT!!" Sango screamed as her boomerang made contact with the lecherous monk's head. Despite being at death's door a mere five minutes ago, Miroku apparently still felt the need to 'test drive' his now wind tunnel-less hand on Sango's derriere.

"Forgive me my dear Sango! I was merely checking for any injuries that may have gone unnoticed. I only had your safety and health in mind!" Miroku continued to mumble apologies from the flat of his back as Sango turned on her heel to see to her brother. Kagome turned her attention back to the Demon Lord in front of her, a smile lingering on her lips. A blush soon accompanied it when she noticed his penetrating gaze on her.

"A-Arigato, Sesshomaru-sama, for all your help." She bowed quickly before turning from him and picking up the kitsune that was now hiding behind her legs, glaring up at the Lord of the Western Lands in front of her. "Come on, Shippo. Let's get everyone together." Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled at him one last time and saw the demon give her a small nod in return, then turn and leave. She felt a tug at her heart as her eyes landed on Inuyasha and Kikyo's embracing forms. Kagome's incarnation had surprised everyone by turning on Naraku at the battle's peak by turning her own bow on him, distracting him from Kagome. Her love for Inuyasha had won out in the end. The sudden end to her hopes of romance, however, had been hard to accept. He would be her best friend, but nothing more and that fact still hurt to think of. 'He chose her, you knew that he would.'

Holding her head high, Kagome waved the couple over and joined Sango and Miroku at Kaede's hut. The next hour was spent planning and negotiating Kagome's short trip home. Miroko finally asked for Sango's hand in marriage and she accepted without hesitation. Congratulating the happy couple and assuring Shippo that she would return, the raven-haired beauty took off for the well that would take her home for a week of relaxation.

That's when the fire came.

*End Flashback*

Opening the door, Kagome stepped into the bathroom and turned on the lights. Turning to open the shower door, she jumped back with a small gasp. The reflection in the bathroom mirror had startled the 18 year old girl. The lack of sleep due to her heat flashes were starting catch up with her. Her skin had paled considerably, giving her a sickly appearance and her eyes held a hollow look. A thick layer of sweat had settled on her skin from the fire storm that had ravaged her body not even moments ago.

"What the hell...?" She blinked again. For a split second, the miko could have sworn her eyes had been burgundy instead of the familiar brown. Shaking her head, she climbed into the rather large shower stall and sighed in relief as a gentle cascade of cool water washed over her. She would leave in the morning for the past and pray. Pray that the right decisions would suddenly fall in her lap...and that she would remember to breathe the next time she would see Sesshomaru. Turning the water off and wrapping a towel around her now cooled body, Kagome once again entered her room and slipped between the covers. After a half and hour blinking at her off-white ceiling, her eyes finally drooped and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning the house seemed to buzz with new life. Kagome rolled out of bed, cursing the seemingly brighter sun, and feeling frazzled at the super-highway that suddenly sprouted within her house. How could a middle-aged woman, old man, adolescent boy, and obese cat make so much noise?! Even the birds outside her window received a death glare. Slipping on a ruby-red, spaghetti-strap sundress and matching sandals, Kagome quickly tied her hair up with a matching ribbon. Applying a little make-up, she took another look-over before grabbing her backpack and heading downstairs. Taka (A.N. – Okay, okay...I don't know her Ms. Higurashi's first name! I'm trying here...really I am!) hummed to herself as she grabbed her daughter's bag from her and began to stuff it with supplies.

"Kagome, dear." The girl's head shot up from her tea as her mother turned to her. "I've packed you with enough ramen to last for awhile and some chocolate for Shippo, there is also a new first-aid kit." Smiling in gratitude, Kagome kissed her mother on the cheek, wincing slightly at noise level around her, grabbed the now fully-loaded bag and took off for the well. Souta waved good-bye to his older sister on her way out and was rewarded with a pat on the head.

Kagome slid open the door to the well and took a deep breath. 'It has to happen some time.' Closing the door behind her, she walked down the steps and swung her legs over the well's edge. Another deep breath and Kagome closed her eyes as blue overtook her body and her world disappeared. Opening her eyes once more, she looked up to the blue sky above her and began to climb up the well wall. Just as she reached out for the well's rim, a magenta-striped, clawed hand firmly took hold of her own. Looking up from the pale hand surrounding hers, Kagome gasped as Sesshomaru looked down at her and...smiled. 'Breathe, Kagome, breathe. Oh God...'

TBC

*Dun Dun DUN!!!*

A.N. Hello again! Hoped you liked it so far. I know it's starting off slow but give it time! IT WILL GET BETTER!! (I hope...*nervous laugh*) Please review and let me know if I should even bother continuing...well, I will continue but just tell me if I should even post it!! ~_0 Cheers!! – G.S.