To Heal a Broken Heart by Efreet

One

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open. It was still night. He closed his eyes and tried to recapture the dream. Inuyasha's miko beneath him, writhing, screaming out his name, clutching at him, her body wrapped around his, him bending over to take her neck in his teeth. His hand reached down to relieve the incredible erection the thought of her had given him. He pumped furiously his mind replaying the dream in every exquisite detail. He felt himself nearing his climax and concentrated all his will on her. His release came suddenly and he collapsed growling into his bed. Why did that damned woman have such an effect on him? Not even a woman, she was a child really, only a decade or so older than Rin, far too young for a youkai who measured his age in centuries. He could remember the first time he'd seen her as if it were yesterday, all softness and uncertainty, hiding behind his hanyou brother. He closed his eyes to try to find sleep again, but images of Inuyasha ca me into his mind causing him to growl again. His claws dug into the bed and he had to force himself calm before he did more damage to the already over taxed piece of furniture.

His hanyou brother had plagued him more of late than usual. It seemed that every time he closed his eyes he was confronted with the half-breed's face. Sometimes he would watch in helpless horror as Inuyasha claimed the girl before his eyes. She would scream then too, but this time in pain and fear, begging him to rescue her from the hanyou who tore at her with fang and claw and took for his everything Sesshomaru wanted her to willingly give. He opened his eyes again. Darkness draped his lands, the lands he had to struggle to control even without the threat of Naraku or his gods-cursed brother going about slaying all his loyal youkai servants. He climbed out of bed and dressed, including breast plate and shoulder guard. He had no intention of going into battle, only to watch, but caution had saved his life more than once. He woke Jaken in the little demon's chambers.

"I am going."

"How long will we be gone, my Lord?"

"I am going, you are staying. You are to watch over Rin while I am gone. I will return soon."

Then he was gone. Jaken frowned at the closing door. Very rare was the time when his master had left him behind. Usually it meant he was going out to find himself a female to rut. At such time Jaken did not want to be present and so was grateful. He decided this must be that his master was doing, and returned to his interrupted rest.

~*~*~*~

Kagome gripped the complete Shikon no tama in her fist. Her whole body was shaking. She had run well over two miles from the sight of them. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stave off the tears she knew were coming. Exhausted and anguished she fell to her knees, one hand gripping the soil as tightly as the other gripped the damned jewel. To think he could suggest using the jewel to bring Kikyou back. Did he not realize what that meant? She carried Kikyou's soul within her. To bring Kikyou back would rob her of her soul and her life. A great choking sob escaped her lips and she let it all come out. She wailed out her anger and grief to the forest, her fist pounding ground as though it were Inuyasha receiving her blows.

"I hate him." She whispered softly, then shouting, "I hate you Inuyasha! I hate you for what you do to me you bastard! I hate you."

She leaned forward, her head resting on the Earth, trying to calm herself. She would go home. She would bring the jewel with her and hide it in the future. It would harm no one, and Inuyasha could not promise Kikyou her soul if he could not find it. Her school had a study abroad program. She could go to England or America for a year and perhaps hide the jewel there. Rising slowly, she prepared to go back to the village and say goodbye, possibly for the last time. She turned and froze. Standing behind her, watching her, was Sesshomaru. He neither smiled nor frowned, but simply looked at her with the same cold expression he always wore, but no matter that he was an enemy, she felt her heart skip a beat. He was the most beautiful man in creation. She took a step back, then stopped she was trembling, but this time with rage.

"What! What do you want? Do you want me? Do you want to use me too? Do you think he would trade the Tetsusagia for me? Well you're wrong! I mean nothing to him! You got that! Nothing! Here!" She flung the jewel at him and he snatched it from the air. "That's all that matters to him!"

Sesshomaru approached her slowly and she was suddenly afraid. What if he killed her because she was no longer useful to him? This thought only made her stand firmer. Let him kill her. She wasn't sure if she cared anymore. Gently he slipped the necklace the jewel was suspended from over her head, flipping her hair out of the chain with a single clawed hand. He was close enough to feel the warmth of his body radiate off him, close enough so that she could catch the scent that was uniquely his. Unconsciously she inhaled, memorizing the heady fragrance. He touched the jewel where it rested on her chest.

"The bearer of the Shikon no tama should know neither grief nor pain, and my fool of a brother has given you both." He wiped the tears from her face. "He chose the dead over the living, only proving what a child he still is."

She snarled at him, a sound that startled him though he showed no sign of it. "I am nothing to him, just another toy."

"Yes, and like every pup with a toy he does not understand that it can break. He does not understand that you have needs and wants and desires. He cares only that you are there for his amusement, then his heartbroken only a short time when he realizes he has ruined you."

Her chin came up in defiance. "He has not ruined me."

"Is that why you remain in the presence of an enemy, weaponless, defenseless, and completely at my mercy?" He gripped her chin gently between strong fingers. "He has broken your spirit if not you body, he has smothered your fire."

Kagome knew that truth rang in those words. There was no sense in denying that. She closed her eyes. "Then kill me and get it over with."

"No, miko, I think not." His fingers caressed her face. "Perhaps the fire is not completely gone, perhaps it can be rekindled." He released her and stepped back. "Rin is in need of a companion. I have come to ask your permission to bring her here for a few days."

She opened her eyes wide, shock easily read in her face. "Rin?"

"A human girl child in my care. She knows little of the human world and lives her life surrounded by demons, male demons at that. I believe she is in need of a little mothering. I know that you leave this place from time to time, but I would be most honored if you spent a small portion of your time here with her."

"I would...I would love to."

He nodded and turned to go. "I will bring her to this place two days from now, if that is all right with you."

"That's fine. I'll be here in the morning." She reached out and touched his arm. "Kagome."

"What?"

"My name, you called me miko, my name is Kagome."

He nodded curtly. She watched as he vanished into the forest. Suddenly the strange energy that had seemed to sustain her, left. She fell down to her knees and took several deep shuddering breaths. She wasn't sure what had just happened. Sesshomaru, who hated and despised humans as weak and unimportant, had treated her with more regard that Inuyasha who claimed to be her friend. After several minutes she rose and walked back to the village. She had a lot of thinking to do.