Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine. sigh
This is sort of another version of Wolfshade22x's Sesshoumaru's Bane. Well, not really. It's different...sort of....and I'm just blabbing right now, so I think I'll start with the story. FlamingDrake
Involuntary Connections
Chapter One The Hanyou's Mistake
The serpent struck with lightning speed, its fangs piercing the taiyoukai's chest deeply. Wincing as the virulent poison began to flood his system, Sesshoumaru countered with a slash of his razor-sharp claws, aimed at the snake's vulnerable eyes. The reptile twisted lithely away, and the youkai lord's swipe rebounded off the impenetrable emerald scales of his adversary. He cursed softly, and acid dripped from his hands, sizzling when it made contact with the ground.
Sesshoumaru's next lash sent the serpent recoiling. Drops of burning acid splashed onto the snake's form, and wherever they landed, the scales disintegrated. Hissing in pain, the snake uncoiled with unimaginable speed, springing at the youkai with fangs bared.
The taiyoukai leapt lightly into the air, landing behind the startled serpent. His claws sought the uncovered flesh where the scales had melted, and the reptile let out one last dying shudder before succumbing to the darkness, its ruby-red eyes dimming. Sesshoumaru bent and lifted the rosy shard of the Shikon jewel, studying it carefully. 'This is what that hanyou bastard's been searching for. Perhaps I can coerce him to give me the Tetsusaiga with this.'
Standing, Sesshoumaru swayed, trying to fight the momentary dizziness assaulting him, an aftereffect of the snake's bite.
Kagome pedaled thoughtfully, trying to ignore the erratic yelps of Shippou as the kitsune bounced up and down in her bicycle basket. She wasn't the only one being annoyed by the fox; judging by the way Inuyasha's ears were flattening, he wasn't in a particularly good mood either.
"Inuyasha?" came a query from above, as Sango rode overhead on Kirara. "Do you have any specific thoughts on where we're going?"
The hanyou grunted. "There's a powerful youkai up ahead," he replied. "Can you sense any jewel shards, Kagome?"
Concentrating, she frowed. "Only one," she answered. "It shouldn't be too much of a challenge for you, right, Inuyasha?"
He favored her with a slight smile – they'd gotten considerably closer after Inuyasha had seen Kikyo with Naraku – and turned away again with a warning glare at the hyperactive Shippou. The kitsune merely stuck out his tongue at the hanyou's retreating back, causing Kagome to giggle slightly. Aware that he was being taunted by either the fox or his surrogate mother, Inuyasha let out a soft 'feh', which resulted in more laughter from Kagome.
That was when he first caught the distinctive scent. He froze, his hand immediately moving to the hilt of the Tetsusaiga, closing protectively over the weathered leather binding. Sango landed instantaneously, her expression anxious, and Miroku merely scanned the hanyou's face, searching for an indication of what was troubling Inuyasha.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" the monk questioned, glancing over at Kagome, who merely shrugged. The girl had already strung an arrow, the bowstring tense. She could sense Inuyasha's discomfort, but couldn't place the source of it. Surely, if the opponent bore only one jewel shard, her hanyou could defeat it.
And then Inuyasha said one name which dispelled the confusion in his companion's thoughts.
"Sesshoumaru."
The taiyoukai waited calmly in the clearing, well aware that his half- brother was approaching, along with his ningen companions. He'd been able to secure a victory over the snake's poison, though he was unsure as to how long the momentary clear-headedness would last; he didn't wish to collapse in a battle with the hanyou, and yet he couldn't run, if he was to preserve his reputation.
He winced slightly as another stabbing pain from his chest assaulted him, but remained steady on his feet. A gentle breeze blew back the silver tresses framing his emotionless, yet handsome, face. Sesshoumaru readied his claws, his exquisite golden eyes darkening slightly.
He didn't have to wait long. The hanyou stepped warily out of the oaks, the miko trailing closely. Upon closer inspection, the monk and the taijiya were there as well, concealed in the foliage. The taijiya was accompanied by a giant firecat youkai, upon which rode a small kitsune cub.
"The company you travel with is pathetic," the youkai lord stated calmly, more to goad his hotheaded brother than to insult his friends. He'd seen the miko in action before, and respected her purifying arrows, along with the monk's wind tunnel and the taijiya's boomerang.
"He's holding it," Kagome informed Inuyasha quietly. Hearing her words, Sesshoumaru studied her curiously before glancing down at his hand and at the Shikon shard glittering there.
He smiled ever so slightly – more of a grimace than a smile, as the pain in his chest attacked him once more – and held up the fragment so it caught the sunlight. "Did you want this?" he inquired sarcastically, knowing full well that the small party had been collecting the shards for some time.
"Hand it over, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha snarled, whipping the Tetsusaiga out before him. Sesshoumaru's eyes glinted at the sight of the legendary blade.
"Would you consider a trade? Call it a compromise, I suppose, until I kill you and take possession of your other Shikon shards. Give me the Tetsusaiga, and I reward you with this piece of the jewel."
The hanyou snorted. "You, kill me? Don't make me laugh!" He lunged at the youkai lord, who easily avoided the sword with his heightened agility. Frustrated, Inuyasha swiped repeatedly, always intersecting only air.
"Dear little brother, you're as slow as you were fifty years ago. I never realized that hanyou bastards advanced this slowly."
"Stop with the whole tirade about 'bastard', Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha spat bitterly. "You're just jealous that your youkai mother was dumped for my ningen one."
Silence penetrated the area. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, letting the anger flow through him. He looked up again, his face already lengthening into that of a snowy white canine's, and smirked. His eyes were garnet, dark as the ruby. Fangs gleamed from his snout, and he reared, towering over the tiny figures on the ground.
"Damn," Inuyasha whispered, clenching the Tetsusaiga so tightly that the hilt left an imprint on his skin. The gargantuan dog reached down and playfully swept the entire band of companions away, then sat back on his haunches, licking his paw thoughtfully.
"Well, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru roared – it sounded like roaring, at any rate, though his canine ears probably heard it as normal speech – "your ningen heritage hasn't seemed to help you much, has it? Weak, filthy things, humans are. Not even a hanyou should demean itself by associating with those of the lower order. You should have killed your mother while you had the chance."
As a response, the hanyou leapt, slashing wildly with the blade. Sesshoumaru's giant paws batted away the attempts easily, his triumphant expression easily seen even in his true form.
The triumph quickly dissipated, however, when the taiyoukai felt his entire body numb suddenly. The adrenaline from meeting his half-brother had granted him some time, but the poison was dominating over his willpower now. Cursing, Sesshoumaru toppled onto his side, reverting back to his usual humanoid form.
"Well, this is interesting."
Gazing down at the prone form, Inuyasha poked his half-brother experimentally. When Sesshoumaru didn't move, the hanyou's fangs showed in a gleeful smile as he raised the Tetsusaiga.
"Osuwari!"
Inuyasha crashed facefirst to the ground, narrowly missing Sesshoumaru's head.
"Bitch..."
She'd expected the obscenity and paid him no mind, moving to the youkai lord's side. Gazing at his dulled golden eyes, Kagome suddenly made a decision.
"We're going to help him." Her eyes wandered over the taiyoukai's strangely peaceful face, past the blood darkening his clothes.
"We're going to what?" By now, the hanyou had managed to yank his face from the ground.
"Help him," she reiterated. "After all, you wouldn't leave your half- brother to die here, would you?"
Inuyasha considered that. "Actually –"
Before he could finish the thought, Kagome had already recruited Sango's aid, and the two girls were dragging the unconscious taiyoukai onto Kirara's back. "That's nice, Inuyasha. Now hurry up. I need to take him to Kaede."
"You're crazy!"
"I don't think you're one to judge me for mental illness, Inuyasha." The sarcasm was lost on him, but it made Kagome feel slightly better, anyways. She petted the giant neko youkai before making sure Sesshoumaru was safely secured. "Sango, make sure he doesn't fall off."
Miroku blinked. "Please tell me why we're rescuing him?"
"I think we'd all like to know that," Inuyasha snarled.
"That's too bad." Kagome hopped on her bike and pedaled away, following Sango. Actually, she didn't exactly know why she wanted to rescue the youkai lord. Perhaps it was because when Sesshoumaru was asleep, he looked so...angelic, almost, as if he had emotions, feelings, like other people.
And she wondered sometimes, watching him implacable face...
'What do you see that the rest of us don't?'
The ancient priestess finished grinding the herbs and handed the rather gooey paste to Kagome. "Spread this on his wound smoothly. Inuyasha, can ye come with me?"
Snorting, the hanyou followed her.
"Here ye are." Kaede waved around a string of beads triumphantly.
It only took Inuyasha a second to realize what they were. "Hell no! I already have a fucking rosary; I don't need another one!"
With patience that was quite astounding, the ancient priestess explained, "It's for your brother, Inuyasha."
"Brother?" The hanyou considered that. "Sesshoumaru's my half-brother..." A minute later, however, his face lit up. He snatched the rosary from Kaede's hands. "Thanks, Kaede-baba!"
"Wait, Inuyasha! Ye did not hear what I have to say." She paused, snatching the rosary back from him. "Firstly, this is the most powerful rosary I own. It needs no spell of enchantment, and can never be removed."
"Perfect." Inuyasha grabbed the string again and raced towards the enclosure.
Kagome carefully pulled aside the restraining material and ran her hands lightly over Sesshoumaru's well-toned chest. Hmmm....nice....
Realizing just what she was thinking, she blushed a dozen shades of red and quickly picked up the pot of paste, fumbling with it and dropping half of it on the ground. She coated her hands with the stuff, noting that it felt quite cool to the touch, and brushed it gently over the wound.
"A few more minutes of this, and I really am going to go insane," she muttered, trying not to look at the taiyoukai. Quickly, she spread the rest of the gunk on Sesshoumaru's chest.
She raised one hand to his neck, searching for a pulse, but could find none. That was strange. Moving her hand down to his wrist, she tried again, holding his hand tightly.
It was very, very faint.
That wasn't really a good thing.
The door practically collapsed as Inuyasha skidded through, triumphantly brandishing a rosary. "Kagome, look what Kaede gave me –"
He slipped on the medicine Kagome had spilled on the floor...
Righting himself almost instantly, he watched in horror as the string of beads whipped up into the air...
And wrapped itself securely around Sesshoumaru and Kagome's wrists.
"What..." Kagome tugged on the rosary, but was rewarded only with a crackle of electricity as the rosary's spell refused to let her pry it off. "Ow!"
Hearing the commotion, Miroku and Sango rushed in. "What's going on?"
They took in the situation at a glance – the half-dressed Sesshoumaru, with Kagome's hand firmly clasping the taiyoukai, and Inuyasha staring on in horror.
Of course, they interpreted it in different ways.
"Kami-sama, Kagome, I didn't know you were quite that fickle! One minute without Inuyasha, and you're undressing his half-brother?"
"You perverted fool!" Sango's slap resounded in the space. "And you, Inuyasha! How could you have put a rosary on Kagome?"
It was only then that Inuyasha realized the depth of the situation. "Fu-"
Miroku clamped his hand securely over the hanyou's mouth with a slightly lecherous grin. "You don't want to continue that thought, Inuyasha. Remember, the first command you issue is the command that activates the rosary. I'm sure you don't want to see them...copulating like dogs." He smirked. "I wouldn't mind, but..."
Inuyasha, instead of replying verbally, merely smashed Miroku into the floor.
"Let's talk about this outside," Sango muttered. "It's safer. You won't have a chance to issue any stupid commands." The three of them trailed outside, leaving Kagome alone with Sesshoumaru.
Well...this was awkward.
What time was it, anyways?
Working at the beads futilely, she yanked on the stubborn string. Sawing away at it with a knife didn't work; scissors failed; biting left her with a toothache and not much else.
This was hopeless.
On second thought, she reflected, things weren't the worst they could be. It was definitely a good thing that Miroku had had enough presence of mind to stop Inuyasha from finishing the obscenity. Then again, she could just imagine what fun new command the hanyou would issue.
What did she do to deserve this?
Inuyasha gazed incredulously at the 'food' Sango was doling out. Half the ramen was overcooked and the other half retained the shape of the packaging that usually surrounded it. He licked it experimentally.
Honestly. And he'd thought nothing could ruin ramen.
"How is it?" Sango asked cheerfully.
Shippou muttered an excuse about not being hungry – as if, the kitsune was always 'starving' – and Miroku mumbled something about how he'd never tasted that unique flavor before. Which, the hanyou muttered to himself, was hard to believe – everyone tasted burnt food at some point in their lives.
"We need to discuss this situation, Inuyasha," Miroku remarked. "It seems that the rosary on Kagome and Sesshoumaru's hands is permanent. So, in that case, we need to come up with a specific order."
Inuyasha grinned evilly. "Sit?"
"Use your imagination!" Sango chided. "Besides, what if you wanted to punish your brother but not Kagome? They'd both be dragged down."
"It'd be payback," he muttered, but decided against that option. "Well...what if I told them to obey any specific order I issued them?"
The others contemplated that. "Perfect."
What time was it? Her arm was getting cramped from being stretched out; she was curled in a corner of the chair as far away from Sesshoumaru as was possible. It probably wasn't a good idea to go to sleep in the presence of a youkai lord, even if the taiyoukai in question was unconscious.
Her eyelids drooped.
With an angry growl, she jerked herself upright again.
It was no use. Her arm felt like it was going to fall off.
Then, just to make matters worse – actually, Kagome viewed it as an act of a sadist – Sesshoumaru rolled away from her, pulling her half off the chair.
"Great," she muttered. She managed to crawl off the chair, towards the bed.
He shifted farther away from her.
"Owowowowowow!" Kagome decided that there was no help for it. She carefully sat down on the very edge of the bed. The very edge. One centimeter further and she'd be on the floor.
So...he moved even farther.
"Bad dog!" she scolded; not that he could hear her, and if he had, not that she would be living long enough to feel the discomfort, but it made her feel better. She put her full weight on the cot and laid down, deciding that since all he did was move away, she wasn't in any real danger.
He rolled towards her and threw his free arm across her body.
Ohhhhh. This was not good.
Apparently, she must have felt like a giant teddy bear (hard to imagine the great Lord Sesshoumaru sleeping with a stuffed animal) because he wrapped both his arms around her and relaxed completely.
She lay in mortification for a good ten minutes before she wondered if she could slip out from his grasp. The rosary clinked rather loudly when she moved; managing to hold one hand still while moving the rest of her body was hard. She didn't manage it.
Well, given enough time, she might have.
But...at that opportune moment, Inuyasha raced through the door, closely trailed by Miroku and Sango.
They all froze on the threshold, staring in disbelief at the scene before them. Kagome was wrapped securely in Sesshoumaru's arms, and she looked strangely...flushed...
Inuyasha's golden eyes blazed with anger. Without remembering his decision, he screamed the first thing that came to his mind...
And that's where this chapter stops. Yay! Actually, I sort of need ideas...
If you have time, please r&r my other story, Demon Reincarnate. Thanks. -FlamingDrake