Cold by Nekette

Cold Death By Love's Hands

Well, as I'm sure you all know by now, I don't own the rights to InuYasha, nor do I own the rights to Prelude 12/21 by A Flame Inside.

This is one of my first one shots in a while, so be gentle, aye?

'It was cold.'

The thought whispered through her mind, and Kagome shivered violently upon the rock she perched a top of. Pulling the ends of the kimono tighter around her shaking frame, the fragile figure licked blue tinged lips, her blue eyes drained of color in her gray surroundings.

'Where is he?'

Those very same orbs searched and searched the trees around her in vain for a glimpse of quick silver or the hint of red upon white that marked his haori.

'He promised...'

'He lied.'

'But, he...'

'You stupid girl! Who would ever love you? You're weak and pathetic. Kikyo will always be better than you. You couldn't even save your friends from being slaughtered by Naraku. You just stood there, helpless.'

The argument with herself was lost, and her thin shoulders slumped under the weight of defeat, soundless sobs tearing apart her soul.

It was true; she was weak, and pathetic. The only reason she still lived was because Naraku took such joy in seeing her suffer.

'But he saved me...'

Whispering to herself, she cringed at the sound of her own thought, unknowingly spoken aloud.

It was also true that Sesshoumaru had saved her. Or at least, he had taken her into his custody.

'He feeds you nothing but lies.'

The voice hissed to her, further breaking her spirit.

The Ice Prince had taken her to his bed, whispering words of endearment that sounded so fake and rehearsed that she cringed from his touch. But she was desperate for contact with another person.

So desperate that she ignored the warning signs bombarding her from all sides as he would write steadily in his little book and ignore her whenever she was not gracing his bed.

She had peeked into that book one day, and she denied everything vainly, praying it wasn't true.

The contents were notes on the possible progeny of a priestess and a Dog Lord, coldly accurate descriptions of his 'experiments' reactions when he touched her.

'You are only his tool.'

'But he promised...'

That was the last night she had spent in a warm bed, for he had taken her into the forest, and left her by a hot spring.

"I will return for you, if you are good and wait. If you don't, you will not like the out come."

The threat in his voice had been clear, and she cowered with submissive obedience against the rock he dropped her upon.

She hadn't moved, for days, simply to please him. Anything to please him.

'And to think...I, who was the head strong Protector of the Shikon no Tama, am reduced to this...this demon's play thing.'

The thoughts ran bitter through her mind, leaving a disgusting coppery taste in her mouth.

She felt so dirty, obeying his every cold whim, like a whore desperate to please her Master.

'Isn't that what you are?'

The voice purred into her thoughts and she flinched, hunching over to cover her ears.

She didn't want to listen, but she didn't have much choice either, now did she.

'He'll be back, he promised me.'

That same voice, her own, whimpered.

'You are lying to yourself, and you know it.'

It sounded so much like InuYasha's voice, that she believed it. She had no choice. She was wrong and he was right.

She had learned that lesson after three brutal years of his constant abuse. When the well was crushed and trapped her here, he became even worse.

'Just wait, and stay still. He'll be mad if we move.'

Pleading with herself, she could hear the insanity lurking behind the words.

She wondered vaguely when she became so crazed and delusional.

Inhaling and exhaling, she squared her jaw to still her chattering teeth, hardening her soul and body against the lethal weather.

The only reason she had survived for so long was because of the steam that usually blew upon her chilled flesh to warm her, and the berries that grew at the edge of her boulder prison.

Choking back a sob, the weary woman child closed her eyes, humming a half remembered song.

"This is what I brought you, this you can keep.

This is what I brought, you may forget me.

I promise to depart, just promise one thing...

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."

The surrounding forest grew suddenly silent, the hairs along Kagome's neck prickling in warning.

He was near.

Swallowing her apprehension, she continued to hum the song.

"This is what I brought you, this you can keep.

This is what I brought, you may forget me.

I promise you my heart, just promise to sing...

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep."

A broad hand wrapped around the back of her neck, long fingers digging into her throat and choking her words.

She knew, then, what his plan was for her all along.

Instead of the fear she knew she should feel, she felt only an immense relief at the promised freedom from her burden of the Jewel.

Sesshoumaru turned her slowly to face him, features cold and impassive.

"I said I would return, little miko, and I have."

Kagome's vision was fading to black around the edges, and all she could do was smile. She had pleased him.

He turned, facing the hot spring with the girl dangling by her neck in his grasp, limbs limp at her sides.

She made no attempt to resist the inevitable.

A cold smirk twisted his lips as he lowered the burden into the water slowly, the words of the song continuing to recite themselves within Kagome's mind.

"This is what I thought, I thought you need me.

This is what I thought, so think me naive.

I promised you a heart you promised to keep.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to...sleep."

In a rare gesture of kindness, he bent and kissed her closed lids before releasing his grasp on her throat, instead holding her by the shoulders.

"Sleep forever with your unborn child, miko."

Tears burned her eyes as his last words filled her. Her child? Her child that would never see the light of day.

A single sob escaped her lips before the powerful hands, yes, both of them, pressed down on her shoulders.

Her cries were choked by the water that she inhaled, and her vision was blurred by the cloudy water.

'Sesshoumaru...'

Her eyes slid closed forever as the water enveloped her body in its warm embrace. Shielding her from ever feeling pain again.

The demon lord gazed dispassionately at his dead concubine as her body sunk to the bottom of the pool. Bowing his head, he turned, and left, leaving behind him the book that had ended her life.