Author's Notes: This is my first attempt at a Sessh/Kag pairing. I really dunno where the idea for this fic came from, but it has been bubbling in my mind since before Destiny's Fault. I hope you enjoy reading it.
Disclaimer: As usual, I shall observe the formalities. I do not own the InuYasha storyline or associated characters. I just own my original storyline that includes elements from the InuYasha canon. Thank you, have a nice day.
Chapter One: Kagome's Unexpected Flight
Kagome awoke in a tangled sleeping bag beside a dying campfire. Her nose was icy cold; exposed to the chill due to the weak flames. She furrowed her brow as she sat up to look around. InuYasha was supposed to be on watch and tend the fire … But he was nowhere in sight. Kagome sighed as she stood up. She was a little stiff from sleeping on the ground but she made for the woodpile slowly. The young woman gathered a few logs and thick branches and brought them back to the nearly spent campfire. She slowly fed the fire until it crackled and kept the chill of the night at bay. Kagome looked around the camp again. Sango, Shippo, and Kilala were curled together in a blissful slumber while Miroku slept sitting against a tree. So, where is InuYasha? Kagome thought as she stoked the fire absent-mindedly. He was supposed to be on watch and then wake up Miroku. What could have happened? Kagome reached into her backpack and pulled out her Algebra book. I may as well study while I wait … She opened the text and browsed a few lessons that her class should be studying soon. Kagome studied for close to forty minutes and was calculating the volume of a trapezoid when she felt an odd presence. She once again scanned the camp only to see nothing. However, something luminescent glinted in Kagome's upper peripheral vision.
Kagome looked to the sky and sorrowful comprehension stole over her as she saw Kikyo's Soul Collectors. Angry tears gathered in Kagome's eyes as she closed her text book slowly; letting the pages flap together noisily. "So that's where he is," she whispered to herself mournfully. Her tears spilled down her cheeks as she thought rapidly. I can't believe this is happening again! I don't deserve this! He is always doing this to me, and why do I continue to put up with it? Why?! What's wrong with me? Kagome sobbed audibly out of frustration. That's it, I'm going home! I need some "mental health" time. She stood and began to pack her things quietly, mindful not to wake her sleeping companions. Kagome cried quietly as she rolled up her sleeping bag and put her last remaining personal belongings into the enormous yellow backpack. She carried the bag and bundle to her bicycle and began to tether them to the rack. I'll leave them the ramen and the first-aid kit. Sango and Miroku will need it more than I. She hooked the last bungee cord into place and began to write a note for her friends.
"What are you doing awake?" InuYasha's voice rang out suddenly.
Kagome jumped slightly from having been startled and turned to face InuYasha. Should I give him a chance to explain? … More like lie to me … "Where have you been?"
"I, uh, heard a noise and went to check it out. It was nothing," InuYasha answered with a lie, as predicted.
"Ha! I knew you'd lie to me!" Kagome growled.
"I'm not lying!" InuYasha shouted, awaking the entire camp.
"Yes you are! I saw the Soul Collectors! You went to see Kikyo!" she called him out as more tears streamed down her face.
InuYasha looked down awkwardly from being caught in his lie.
Kagome took advantage of his silence to vent some bottled up anger. "I can't believe you! First you leave camp when you're on watch! What if a demon came? We were all asleep! We could have been hurt! We could have been killed! And then you stand there and lie to me again!"
"But Kikyo …"
Kagome threw her notepad in fury, "Kikyo! Kikyo! KIKYO! It's always about her! You could at least tell me the truth when you go see her! If it wasn't for me, the miasma Naraku attacked her with on Mount Hakurei would have destroyed her body! She'd be dead! But no, you can't even find the courage to tell me the truth! Kikyo always comes first!"
"Don't talk about her like that!" InuYasha shouted in rage as the others watched in shock.
"Oh, I'll do whatever I damn well please! I have had it with Kikyo's special treatment! I saved her life and part of my soul was taken to resurrect her into a clay body. What do I get in return? My jewel shards are stolen, she tries to kill me, and I'm still placed second to her! You lie and sneak all the time for her! But I'd better not breathe an unkind word about Saint Kikyo!"
InuYasha advanced on her swiftly and grabbed her wrist tightly. "I said STOP IT!" he howled in her face.
She shouted right back, "NO! I won't! I'm exhausted with this. I'm going home and you won't have to explain a thing when you sneak off to your perfect, saint-like Kikyo!"
In a flash, InuYasha raised his hand and slapped Kagome hard across the face. She screamed in shock and fear as her body was tossed to the side by the force of his hand. Oh my God … he hit me! Before her thoughts progressed much further Sango and Miroku intervened. Kagome watched silently as Miroku's staff crashed down on InuYasha's head, sending him reeling to the ground. Kagome's wrist was freed and Sango pulled her terrified friend away from her assailant. Kilala positioned herself between the girls and InuYasha as she took on her large, ferocious form. Miroku stood above InuYasha, holding out his right hand in a threat to unleash the Wind Tunnel, and shouted instructions to Kagome. "Get on your bike and go home, Kagome. We will keep him away from you."
Regaining her senses, Miroku's words struck Kagome with a sense of finality. She hugged Sango tightly and saw Shippo glaring menacingly at InuYasha from the fireside. Sango whispered, "Go, Kagome. We'll keep him off your trail as long as possible."
"Thank you," Kagome choked out through frightful tears.
Sango released her from their embrace and pushed at her gently. "Go. Quickly. Be safe."
Kagome nodded and ran to her bike. She quickly mounted the contraption. Kagome pedaled at full speed, steering herself towards Kaede's village and the Bone Eater's Well.
As Kagome pedaled her bike to the crest of a hill, Kaede's village came into view below. The young woman slowed to a stop and dismounted from her bicycle. The adrenaline that fuelled most of Kagome's flight was dwindling and exhaustion was gaining on her. She lowered the kickstand and sat on the cool grass. Her back slouched. The events of the past few hours were slowly becoming reality to Kagome Higurashi. Soon she was hugging her knees to her chest as a fresh crop of tears sprouted and cascaded down the girl's face.
I let this happen. I let him off the hook so many times before finally standing up for myself. For what? At what price? My dignity. My security. My pride. My duty to restore the Sacred Jewel … The jewel!! What will happen now? How can I restore the Shikon Jewel alone? I cannot face Naraku on my own! I am too weak …
KA-KRAK!!
Kagome gasped as a nearby tree was snapped in half. A shriek of terror was stifled in Kagome's throat as an enormous lizard demon came into view. The demon scanned the area as its tongue flickered, smelling for its prey. His vertical pupils locked onto Kagome and the tongue flitted again. "Puny human, give me your shards of the Sacred Jewel!" it hissed.
Kagome drew in a deep breath as the demon charged for her. She finally screamed as she scrambled back onto her bike and began to pedal down the hill. The lizard demon gave chase as panic gripped Kagome's thoughts. I'm such an idiot! I left my bow and arrows at the camp … all I'm armed with is a sleeping bag and some schoolbooks! I'm a goner! She cranked and cranked the pedals on her bike, but Kagome soon felt her muscles burning; threatening to cramp and seize. Fighting the pain in her legs, Kagome pushed herself to keep pedaling the bike and hopefully evade the demon. The chase brought her and the demon near the river; however in the throes of blinding fear Kagome had directed herself away from the bridge. "No…" she groaned at her panic-stricken error. Amidst the regret Kagome felt a jolt and then her stomach dropped. It took a second for her to realize that she had rammed her bike into a log and she was now airborne. Kagome yelped and covered her head to brace for impact. She landed hard in the shallows of the riverbank. The bike, now sporting a bent wheel, skidded to a stop roughly ten feet away. The lizard howled in delight at the sight of the helpless girl sprawled in the water. Kagome, bruised and dripping wet, forced her tired and aching body out of the water. She spied her battered and ruined bike lying nearby. The yellow backpack lay on its side half empty; books, pencils, pajamas, and beauty products had spilled out of the broken pack. With a final burst of adrenaline, Kagome dashed for her scattered belongings as the lizard barreled towards her. She lifted her history book and chucked it at the demon as hard as she could. It struck its shoulder and the demon hissed. Kagome picked up her literature book and a bottle of shampoo and continued to fight. The shampoo and second book merely incensed the demon further, and as Kagome grabbed her hairspray and Algebra book the lizard caught her around the waist. She screamed as the demon lifted her to his eye-level. "Help! Someone, help!" Kagome yelled.
The demon laughed and Kagome began beating on the lizard's arm with her math book. "No one will hear you scream. No one will save you."
Kagome's will to survive was too strong to be phased by the demon's words. She popped the cap off the can of hairspray with her thumb as her last chance presented itself. "Hey, ugly!" Kagome hissed. The lizard's eyes bulged from the shock of her insult. While the demon was vulnerable Kagome took aim and blasted hairspray into its eyes. The demon screeched in pain and dropped Kagome. She took advantage of the moment and started to run. "Help!" she cried, "Help! Somebody please help me!"
But it was too late. The bleary-eyed lizard demon had caught her again ...
Rin hummed happily as she skewered freshly caught fish. It was late before Lord Sesshomaru gave Rin leave to hunt for food and commanded Jaken to prepare a fire. Sesshomaru sat away from the warmth of the fire, barely illuminated by the flames. He sat deeply contemplating the recent events in the Underworld and those concerning the discovery of the jewel that masks demonic auras: the Fuyouheki. Naraku has hidden his heart … but where? Kagura has informed me of the Fuyouheki, but how am I supposed to find Naraku's heart if the demonic aura has been concealed? This is quite a conundrum …
His thoughts were interrupted by a scream piercing the cool night air.
Rin clasped her hands over her mouth to muffle a gasp. The girl lowered her hands and softly spoke, "Did you hear that, Master Jaken?"
Jaken snorted and waved his hand. "Who cares? It is of no concern to us."
Rin ignored Jaken, as usual, and sprinted towards the cry. "But someone's in trouble! They need help!" she shouted.
"Rin! Stop! Silly child!" Jaken cried out as he waddled after her.
Sesshomaru's eyes followed Rin as he stood to follow her. Rin's path led him through a patch of woods and down to the riverbank. Occasionally Sesshomaru would hear Rin or Jaken shouting.
"I hear her! This way!"
"Rin, you fool! Come back!"
Sesshomaru easily caught up with Rin who had hidden behind a clutter of bushes. Jaken soon followed, huffing and puffing. Jaken was about to scold the girl when the cause of all this commotion came into view. Kagome and her bike went flying across their field of vision. Following her intently was a lizard demon. Kagome landed in the shallows of the river and the demon sounded pleased.
"There is nothing to worry about, Rin," Jaken whispered, "the mutt will be along shortly to rescue her."
However, there was no sign of InuYasha. Rin watched with worry marring her brow as Kagome began throwing things at the demon. The lizard was advancing despite the young lady's efforts and soon picked her up. InuYasha was still nowhere to be found as Kagome howled for help.
Rin cast a pleading look to her lord as she gently tugged at his sleeve. "Please, Lord Sesshomaru, save her."
"Don't be ridiculous, Rin," Sesshomaru said flatly.
"Please, my lord. She has always been so kind to me, and she has even protected me a few times. Remember? Please, Lord Sesshomaru, save her," Rin begged from the bottom of her heart.
Sesshomaru watched as Kagome "maced" the lizard with hairspray and made a run for it. She has not once called out for my half-brother's help. She has not even called his name. Is she truly alone?
As Kagome was recaptured Sesshomaru heard her scream, "Help! Help! Somebody please help me!"
Sesshomaru sprang out of the bushes while unsheathing Tokijin in mid-air. He soundlessly sprinted to the demon's side. Kagome and the lizard turned to see Sesshomaru stop a mere meter from them. Kagome saw Tokijin drawn and cringed as she brought her arms in front of her head.
This is it, the nervous teenager thought, if the lizard doesn't kill me, Sesshomaru surely will! She heard the great blade slice through flesh and she cried out in terror. Oh God, this is it! There I go! I can't feel anything because I'm dead! But she did feel something. Kagome yelped as she felt her body slam into the ground yet again. She opened her eyes to the sight of the lizard demon lying in pieces as Sesshomaru swung Tokijin to clean the blood from the blade. He slid the sword back into its resting place and Rin came running out from behind the bushes. Kagome looked at the girl and stammered, "Wh-what just ha-happened? Why did you save me?"
Rin ran up to Kagome and offered her a hand up as well as an explanation. "I heard you screaming and came running," she said while she helped Kagome to her feet, "When I saw that it was you I begged Lord Sesshomaru to save you because you have saved me before. It seemed the honorable thing to do." Rin smiled at her and asked, "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"
Kagome looked at herself. She was drenched, muddy, scratched, and bruised in places. She hadn't suffered and serious physical damage, but emotionally she was not so lucky. "Not really," Kagome sighed, "but tonight has been one shock after another."
Rin, as kind and polite as ever, took Kagome by the hand and pulled her towards her scattered belongings. "Come on. I'll help you gather your things and you can rest with us. You must be tired and hungry. I caught plenty of fish!" Kagome could not refuse the child's kindness.
Jaken looked to Sesshomaru, expecting his lord to protest, however the dog demon observed Kagome's wounds as she and Rin picked up the displaced objects. He noted the scrapes, bruises, and scratches; what caught his eye was the hand-shaped bruise forming on her left cheek. Intriguing … I think I see why my bastard brother was not running to her help. Who was she really running from? "Rin," Sesshomaru beckoned.
The young girl stood at attention and called, "Yes, my lord?"
"I am returning to the camp. I shall expect the both of you to catch up shortly."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru turned on his heel and with Jaken in his wake proceeded back to their campsite. Jaken scratched at his beak looking nervous. "My lord, if I may be so bold, why did you lend aid to your brother's companion?" As Jaken finished his question he flinched, preparing for Sesshomaru's wrath. It appeared that fate was on the little toad's side this night, for Sesshomaru was not enraged. In fact, he was quite intrigued by this whole situation.
"I do not think the girl associates with my half-brother any longer," Sesshomaru began his justification. "Young Rin was right to intervene. That girl, Kagome, has looked after you and Rin when she could have left you to Chance's whim. But most importantly, it seems that InuYasha has cast her aside … she may prove valuable."
"What do you mean, my lord?"
"In due time, Jaken, you may see."
Kagome and Rin arrived at the camp shortly after Sesshomaru and Jaken. Her bike was abandoned; it was totaled. Kagome excused herself to change out of her wet, muddy clothes while Rin resumed skewering fish for an extremely late supper. She returned a short while later clad in fluffy blue slippers, Rainbow Brite pajama pants, a red tank-top and black zip-up hoodie. Kagome pulled her hair in a high pony tail and joined Rin with the food preparation duties. Soon the aroma of roasting fish lingered around the camp. Jaken began to throw covetous and longing glances at the fish.
Kagome stoked the fire and spoke, "I don't know how I can ever thank you guys. I was sure that I was going to die before you showed up."
"You've always been so kind to me, Kagome. I couldn't just turn my back on you," Rin said.
Kagome turned a nervous eye to Sesshomaru. He once again sat far from the fire and caught Kagome's eye. Mustering more courage than she believed she possessed, especially considering recent events, Kagome stood and walked to Sesshomaru. He eyed her suspiciously. "What?" he inquired.
Kagome clasped her hands in front of her. With a deep breath she attempted to express her gratitude. "I know that we have never remotely got along, and I know that you do nothing unless you want. I respect that. But I want you to know that I'm thankful and I am in your debt."
"It's good that you are intelligent enough to understand that much. However, I have a question for you, priestess."
Kagome's brow knitted and she said, "Don't call me that! My name is Kagome!"
"For someone who displayed such intelligence thirty seconds ago, that was quite a display of stupidity."
Angry tears gathered in her eyes. "Kikyo was a priestess, not me. I'm sorry, just don't call me something I'm not."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. Such impudence! I was going to approach this subject slowly, but my patience has run out. "Why didn't InuYasha run to save you?"
Kagome's face underwent a great metamorphosis. Rage was washed away and gave way to anguish and loneliness. She began to slouch and soon knelt on the grass in tears. "I left him," she choked out between sobs. Rin and Jaken were transfixed by this scene.
Sesshomaru continued, "Why?"
Kagome's chest heaved with her sobs and she began to hold the ground for support. "He hit me," she mumbled in a voice barely audible to even Sesshomaru's ears.
"What?" he asked, but not to aggravate her. He wanted to be sure of what she had said; what he heard.
However, his question only enraged her. "He hit me!" she shouted in a cracking voice as she beat at the dirt. "Are you satisfied? He fucking hit me! The bruise you were staring at earlier, yeah I noticed, it came from your damned half-brother! Are you satisfied now?"
"No, I am not satisfied," Sesshomaru said calmly but with heavy disgust. "Why did he strike you?"
Rin slowly approached Kagome and patted her back. Kagome's fury once again became sorrow as she answered him. "I woke up and saw that he was gone. He was supposed to be on watch. I waited to see if something was wrong, but then I saw Kikyo's Soul Collectors. When he returned I was packing to go home and I confronted him. When I wouldn't back down, he … he slapped me. Sango and Miroku kept him at bay while I made a run for it, and then the lizard demon … well, you know the rest." Kagome bowed her head to cry and Rin rubbed her back.
"Come on, Kagome," Rin said softly. "Let's go back to the fire. The fish should almost be done. You can eat and then rest. You have had such a horrible night." The young girl helped Kagome up and continued to comfort her.
Sesshomaru watched the girls retreat to the fireside as he began to mull over all that Kagome told him. So, his true colors arose, and she had the strength to leave. It's surprising because most mortals fool themselves into thinking that striking your mate is acceptable … she had the strength to leave. She would not endure it. This mortal has stood against Naraku with tremendous bravery, and she has even thought she was protecting InuYasha from me when he was in his "demon form." There is no doubt that she is braver than most mortals, even some lowly demons, but she is also staunchly loyal once her trust is gained. He looked to the girls and they were feasting on the roasted fish. Kagome even offered one to the surly Jaken. Sesshomaru looked closely at Kagome and saw the bruise becoming even more defined on her pale skin. He felt an old rage bubble inside of him, but before his anger reached a boiling point he spied the glass vial suspended around Kagome's neck. Two shards of the Sacred Jewel twinkled at him in the firelight. How delicious. She has the jewel shards. Kagome can also sense the shards. But now that Naraku has hidden his heart from us with the Fuyouheki, that ability may not be as useful as before. Still, she has the spiritual powers of a priestess, and as such she can sense demonic auras … he smirked … or the lack thereof. Ah yes, she was the ability to sense where there is or is not a demonic aura, and possesses bait tailored to Naraku's tastes. Kagome could sense when the Fuyouheki has masked my demonic aura and then know the rough location of Naraku's heart. This is almost too good to be true. Now that InuYasha has abused her, he has destroyed her loyalty to him. It now rests on getting her on my side.
Sesshomaru could no longer hold back a chuckle. Thank you, little brother, for being such an ignorant fool. I shall offer her protection from you and a way to fulfill her duties. In exchange, I will destroy Naraku. As they have always said: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.