Natsu pov:

I ran back to the castle my vision blurry and streaks of tears cooling in the wind. My side hurt from the wound Sesshomaru had made with his sword. I coughed and felt tiredness coming over me, but I pushed on.

Finally after a few minutes, I was able to sense his castle. I entered the barrier and went to where Naraku sat. I slid open the door still panting slightly and I walked in. He looked at me, at mywound and back at my face. I sighed and the saimyoushou gave him the jewel shard.

I didn’t leave the room and I gave him a hard look. “Is there something you wished to say?” He asked and I clenched my fist. “You sent me there knowing that I would see him, didn’t you?” I asked almost in a hiss. Naraku narrowed his eyes and looked out the window again. “And what if I did?” I clenched my jaw and shook my head with a disgusted look. “You’re sick.” I said and walked out of the room.

I went back to my room and Kanna was waiting there for me. She gave me a look and I sighed as I took off my blood stained shirt. I sat quietly as she wrapped up my wound. After that she left and I was left to dwell in the emptiness of my heart.

>>Timeskip 2 days

“Natsu, Naraku wants to see you.” Kanna walked into my room silently and stood near me holding her mirror. Naraku had been out for the past 2 days….I don’t know where but I was sure that he hadn’t been in the castle. When I had asked Kagura, she had said something about gaining more power by absorbing demonic energy. And so I was left in the castle alone and no hunting to do.

I gave a soft sigh and got up and followed her to Naraku’s room. But the minute I entered my eyes went wide and I gasped. I took a step back as I stared at his head floating within his barrier with a few more pieces of flesh. “N-naraku?” I asked and he opened his eyes. I flinched as he looked at me and I gulped.

“It seems I need to get stronger. We will be going to Mount Hakurei and I will create a new and stronger body for myself.” He said and I shivered as just his floating head spoke. But I gave a bow. “I understand.” I just worked for him now. Where he went, what he did was none of my concern. Once he had all the jewel shards, I could go home and that was the only reason I was following his orders.

“Come closer.” He said and I walked closer to him. His barrier formed around me as well and we floated to the sky. We travelled for quite some time hidden by his miasma and sometime halfway through the trip he disappeared. I was the only one left in his barrier and I could tell that the barrier was still moving. A little while later, I felt my feet touch solid ground and the miasma cleared. Kanna was standing a few feet away, and when she saw me she turned around and began to walk away.

Assuming that she wanted me to follow her, I stepped inside the cave and we came to a wooden platform from where we could see everything that was below the mountain. A smile mades its way to my face as I forgot about everything for a moment. “Its beautiful…..” I mumbled and gave a heartfelt sigh.

“It is, isn’t it?” I looked to the side and screeched slightly seeing a guy who looked like a zombie. I gave labored breaths and I composed myself. “W-who are you?” I asked and he stared at me with beady eyes. I cringed back not liking the way he was watching me. “I am monk Hakushin…..released from my fears by Naraku. And I am here to help him.” I frowned at his words not quite understanding what he meant by released from his fear. But I watched skeptically as white mist began to spread from his body.

I flinched as it sent a shock through me when it touched me and it began to spread all around the mountain. I looked at my hands and my eyes went slightly wide. I didn’t feel the demon powers that I usually had. I didn’t have claws of fangs. I was human again. I looked back at the monk. “Um….how come I’m a human?” I asked and the monk almost chuckled.

“I see now…..I thought you were a pure demon. You were originally a human but turned into a demon under special circumstances.” I scratched the back of my neck and nodded slightly. “How could you tell?” I asked but he didn’t answer my question.

“I have put up a spiritual barrier. Any demon will be purified by it in an instant. But half demons will turn into humans. This barrier will keep Naraku out of harm’s way as he recuperates.” “Oh, I see.” I said and Kanna walked away again. I rolled my eyes and followed her out and she led me through many tunnels. We finally reached a central space which had tunnels leading all round and a barricaded pathway. The center of the space was huge and both the ceiling and the floor of the space was impossible to see. And I had felt that my demon powers had returned.

Kagura was sitting on the railing on the opposite side and she was glaring at the space below. She noticed that we entered and she glared at me. I sweatdropped and she gave a huff. “You’re lucky. Even if you step out of this cave, you wont get purified. You’ll just return to being a weak human.” She muttered and I gave a small laugh and followed Kanna as she led me to a room in the cave.

Several days passed with us being in the mountain. It was always surrounded by the spiritual barrier and I was sent out by Naraku with Kohaku to take rounds within the barrier. Its not like any demons could get into the barrier but Naraku was cautious. The barrier was too pure for any demon to step in and not get purified. Of course, I was a human when I stepped into the barrier but I didn’t really have to worry about getting attacked, so it was ok.

Besides, I liked going on rounds in the barrier. The atmosphere was calming and it gave me time to just enjoy my surroundings. I didn’t have to think about anything and I could just get lost at watching the natural setting.

I kicked a stone as I walked on a path on the mountain. I was feeling lonely today and thoughts of Sesshomaru didn’t seem to leave my mind. Memories of how I had confessed to him, how he had confessed that I was the first female to receive his special treatment, the possessive yet gentle kisses that he gave me, the feeling of myself wrapped in his embrace as we slept…..they just would leave my mind. And I longed to feel it again.

I let out a deep sigh as my chest ached. Surprisingly, the mark that sesshomaru had given me on my shoulder would give me shocks of pain every now and then. It was weird, and I didn’t understand why it hurt, but there was nothing I could do about it, so I ignored it.

As I walked, a tune filled my head and I gave a chuckle at how similar my situation was. I hummed the tune and began to sing the lyrics.

Sesshomaru pov:

Rin had seen the demons within the barrier. Now I was sure that Naraku was here. He had been hiding all these days and my search for him had become desperate. Not because I was eager to defeat him, but I wanted Natsu back.

The ache in my chest increased everyday and I wanted her to be with me. I wanted to hold her and never let her go again. I wanted to feel her kisses, hear her laughter, see her smiles and see the deep affection she had for me. I wanted to hold her as close as possible and feel the warmth of her small body against mine. I felt empty and cold without her now.

I looked back at the others. Rin and Ah Un were feeling completely fine, Kaito had turned into a human but he still had black hair but his eyes were violet instead of gold. Jaken was the most affected and he kept whining about his suffering. I could also feel the shocks that the barrier sent through my body. I couldn’t get much farther into the barrier or even I would get purified.

I stiffened and I clenched my fist when I got her scent through the barrier. I couldn’t get closer to her since the barrier was too strong, but I could see her walking slowly as she looked at the ground. She gave a sigh and then a soft laugh. She looked at the sky and hummed a tune. And soon she started to sing.

So many words….for the broken heart

Its hard to see in a crimson love, so hard to breathe

Walk with me and maybe

Nights of light so soon become

Wild and free, I could feel the sun

Your every wish will be done, they tell me

Show me the meaning of being lonely

Is this the feeling I need to walk with

Tell me why…I cant be there where you are…

There’s something missing in my heart.

Life goes on, as it never ends

Eyes of stone, observe the trends

They never say, forever gaze if only

Guilty roads to an endless love

There’s no control, are you with me now

Your every wish will be done they tell me

[Chorus repeat]

Her voice was beautiful and I couldn’t take my eyes off her lips as the moved, the longing to feel it against mine was so overpowering and I wanted to just run into the barrier not caring what it would do to me. The pain in her voice made my chest get tight again and she lifted her hand to touch the mark I had given her. I had heard that the mating mark was a way to sense the mate’s feelings. I was in pain…..did it mean she could feel it too?

Perhaps…..but the words she sang….I could tell that she was pained, possibly even more than me and I could tell that she still loved me. She had told me that day that she hated me. Her words had stung and I had lost concentration when Naraku had even kidnapped Rin. I had lost my concentration and let Naraku almost suck me dry of my demonic energy. But as I saw her now, I knew she still loved me and it was painful for her.

“Natsu….” I said softly, but she couldn’t hear me.

There’s nowhere to run, I have no place to go

Surrender my heart, body and soul

How can it be you’re asking me to feel things you never show?

Mt chest stung again. No place to go? I was desperately waiting for her….she could return to me. She belonged to me….and I to her. There was no one who could say it was false. We had married like in human customs, we had mated like in demon customs…..we were one.

You are missing in my heart…..

Tell me why cant I be there where you are?

[Chorus repeat] x 2

I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted her in my embrace now. I took every ounce of strength I had left and stepped into the barrier.

Natsu pov:

The song ended and I gave a sigh. I was lost in thought but I snapped my head to the side when I heard a thud. My eyes went wide when I saw Sesshomaru on his knees panting and electric sparks going off all over his body. My heart raced. What was he doing here in the spiritual barrier? Was he crazy?! He’s a demon!!

I didn’t even think and I ran to him, got down on my knees and supported him. “Sesshomaru! What are you doing here?! You shouldn’t be in the barrier!” I yelled but I was silenced by him pulling me into a hug. My chest felt tight and my eyes went wide. I clenched my jaw as my eyes stung and I tried to push away from him. Rin, Kaito, Jaken and Ah Un were also there and Kaito was a human. He didn’t look too different but I could make out the difference. And Jaken seemed to be in pain because of the barrier.

I could tell that the barrier had affected Sesshomaru’s strength as well, but he still had enough to stop me from bushing him away. He was breathing heavily and he buried his face in my neck. I shivered as his breath fanned my neck and I continued to struggle. But the next thing he said…..made me freeze solid.

“F-forgive me.”

I stopped breathing and my eyes stung. I swallowed and took a sideways glance at him. “W-what did you say?” I whispered and I felt him stiffen. “Don’t make me have to repeat it onna.” He said in a soft growl and let a smile graze my lips as tears fell from my eyes. He had actually apologized…..the Sesshomaru, the lord of the western and eastern lands had apologized to me. I wonder how much effort it took him to suppress his pride and apologize to me.

I let out a relieved laugh and hugged him tightly around his chest. “Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru…..Sesshomaru!” I shut my eyes tightly and hiccupped. “H-how could you just leave me hanging like that?!” I pushed him away and glared through glassy eyes. I breathed heavily and he watched me passively. “I thought…..I thought you never were going to come for me…..I was starting to lose hope…..what took you so long?” I sniffled and covered my face with one hand feeling so pathetic to have him watch me cry.

“I was afraid…..I was afraid that you didn’t love me…..do you know how much it hurt? When you didn’t say anything that day? Do you know….how much I cried?” I sniffled and hiccupped and I held the back of my fist to my mouth as I shut my eyes and controlled my sobs. I slowly looked up feeling his clawed hand lift my chin gently. I shivered once and let out a shuddery breath.

He didn’t say anything but he leaned forward and placed his lips on mine. I felt happiness, pain, desperation bubble within me and I threw my arms around his neck and kissed back. I heard Rin and Kaito squeak in embarrassment as we kissed, but I couldn’t bother less about it. Right now, I just wanted to feel Sesshomaru’s love. His lips on mine, his arm around my waist, the feel of his hair through my fingers….thats all I needed right now.

I felt his fangs graze my lips and I let out a whimper. He shot his tongue into my mouth as I parted my lips and I pulled at his hair earning a growl and a groan. I wanted to deepen the kiss even more but I remembered that Rin and Kaito were there so I took all the effort to pull away. I was panting and a thin like of saliva still connected our lips. I was flushed in the face and I stared at his golden eyes. He pulled me to him again and hugged me.

We sat like that in silence and I smiled when I felt Rin and Kaito hug me from behind. “We missed you Ne chan.” Kaito mumbled and I gave a soft chuckle. “I missed you all too.” I hugged Sesshomaru tighter and finally we let go. I held his haori and smiled at him. “I’m so glad you came.” I said and I helped him stand up. I guided him slightly away from the barrier and he regained his strength.

He held up his hand and his claws became longer. I watched him warily and I squeaked and closed my eyes as he brought it down on me. I slowly opened my eyes and felt around my neck. I looked at the ground and saw the collar lying on the ground in bits and pieces. I looked up and smiled. I saw a barely visible smile graze his lips and I blushed.

I turned away and cleared my throat awkwardly. “W-well….w-we should head out of the barrier.” I said and we all began to walk away from mount Hakurei. I smiled to myself as I walked next to Sesshomaru. I walked closed and linked my fingers with his. He looked at me and I gave him a smile with a blush. He didn’t react and he turned to look back in front but his hand tightened around mine and I giggled to myself.

Somehow, I had to thank Naraku. Being with him, serving him made Sesshomaru and me closer than ever possible. We understood each other more and out connection deepened to the maximum. I guess helping him was bad, but in the end, things turned out in the best. Sesshomaru had confessed…..well not confessed confessed…..but what he had said was good enough for me.

I smiled and looked forward. This hand I was holding now…..I would never let go of it. And I would make sure he would never let go of me either.

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vOtE!!

cOmMeNt!! :P

:D