Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Inuyasha. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi, who is brilliant.

Chapter 2 | Borrowed Power

.

.

.

Sesshoumaru had always gone about his way of doing things, day after day, operating under a strict doctrine of life. Generally, he felt as if he was blazing his own trail: the path of the Great Sesshoumaru. It was a quest for greater power, to regain singlehandely the hold over his father's lands.

Recently, he felt like his fate no longer belonged to him.

Events had been taking place that had started to make him question his own free will. And the horrible thing - the absolute worst thing - is that he found himself making impulsive decisions, resulting in complicated situations. This was, needless to say, extremely irritating.

For example, just today, he had just run into a girl he recognized, and, he not only brought her back to life but practically volunteered to help her avenge her kin. To be more specific, it was more like the girl fell into his lap while he was taking shelter from a particularly nasty storm under a pine tree. And to make matters worse, she was either half dead or completely dead.

It was not in his nature to help someone who disturbs his storm-sheltering. But, after staring blankly at her (corpse?) for a few minutes, he realized he knew her. It was the miko Kagome, Inuyasha's traveling companion. Yes. He must be going through some temporary madness. Perhaps this was the wonder that made life so beautiful and unpredictable, but he doubted it. Looking vacantly at her muddy, sticky feet, he believed, instead, that there was some cruel god somewhere that was getting a kick out of putting him into unfortunate and embarrassing situations. Perhaps it was his father.

Not wanting to continue taking shelter from a storm next to a dead girl, he began to move to another tree, when he received a painful zap from his Tenseiga.

That blasted sword. He began to move away again, but the farther away he walked, the more the pain increased. It had become inconvenient for him to continue going on this way, so he returned to the girl's side.

She was a wet, bruised, heap of ripped clothes. A mess of a creature. As he stared down upon her, the vulnerable line of her jaw stirred something inside him. His sword was pulsing, which irritated him even more. Here he was again, letting himself get manipulated by his fate.

As he gripped the hilt of the Tenseiga, he was startled to see her spirit form beneath him, swatting away the small shinigami with one hand and grasping Tenseiga's seath in her other. After allowing himself a moment to appreciate the stubborness of her temperament, Sesshoumaru smoothly unsheathed the sword and sliced the chains of the world of the dead from her spirit form, releasing her from the Shinigami's grasp.

The motionless girl on the ground was washed with light as her wounds sealed themselves up and her clothing repaired itself. She swiftly inhaled and began to cough some awful liquid that might have been a mix of blood, water and mud.

After clearing her lungs of debris, she sat looking fixedly at her own hands, before turning on her knees to face him. She then spent a few moments alternating between gaping rudely at him and staring at her palms.

"Souta..." His superior hearing picked up on her whisper.

She looked back at him. "Sesshoumaru?"

Apparently, the novelty of his presence wasn't enough to snag her attention for long. Awkwardly, the girl burst out into sobs. "Souta!" She wailed, burying her face in her hands.

The sharp salt smell of tears made him grimace.

"Where is Inuyasha?" he finally decided to ask after she pulled herself together.

"I don't know!" (hiccup) "Usually he is by my side, but I asked Sango to lead him away from the village. I didn't think he'd be gone so soon! Er," she paused. "it's kind of a long story. But you-"

She was cut off by his glare. "You have to help me!" she protested.

"I do not have to do anything." he said cooly. "I would assume that you are resourceful enough to solve your own problems now that you are not dead."

"Ah!" she exclaimed, as if suddenly remembering her brush with death. She looked up at him, eyes glazed over and slightly delirious. "About that. Thank you for saving me, Sesshoumaru."

He turned away from her, embarrassed and disgusted by the pure...what was it? Human-ness of her?

"There need not be any further discussion", he muttered. As his long strides took him away from her, he experienced a stabbing pain in his insides, stopping him cold. He took another step. The pain was still there, but worse. He looked down to ensure that his insides were in tact, which they somehow were.

"Sesshoumaru!" she called from underneath the tree. "come back here! I can't stand up quite yet!"

He cursed the needy girl under his breath and continued forward, experiencing greater pain.

"Sesshoumaru! I'm sorry! Let me clarify: "come back and the pain will cease!"

This pain was her doing?! He ought to give her back to the Shinigami if she was going to be this much trouble. He returned, not wanting to admit the relief he felt as the pain subsided upon moving closer to her body.

"Sesshoumaru, I'm sorry! When I was in limbo, Kikyou was there inside me, and she understood everything! She was really different from the Kikyou I know," she added, seemingly unaware of the lack of background information she had provided.

"She told me to do this, to put this binding spell on your sword, because she said you would be powerful enough to help me. I don't know. I don't usually trust her but this felt right. She was...helping me."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and struggled with how to retort gracefully, but only managed to spit out "I saved your life, and you return the favor by place a binding spell on me?"

The girl blinked once, slowly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that it would be so painful."

Sesshoumaru had had enough of this. He reached for Tenseiga. Let her be bound to the sword then. He just would no longer wear it. His father's heirloom could stuff it. He was sick of it anyway. His whole body warmed when he placed his hand on the hilt, but as soon as he tried to pull the sheath free of this belt, a searing pain went through his arm. He tugged again, clumsy as the jagged fire raced through his shoulder and now to his chest.

"I think you'll break it." The girl was struggling to stand up.

Let the sword shatter. He attempted to break free of the herloom.

"I think you'll break yourself before the sword yields." Kagome said in a small voice.

The pain had moved to his gut, and he found that he could no longer take it. He gave up in anger, turning his glare towards this wretched miko.

She had gotten to stand now, and was bracing herself against the pine. "I have to find my brother. Naraku, I'm going to kill him."

The rain was lightening now, a steady patter in place of a driving pour.

Sesshoumaru felt the anger boiling inside of him. The woman looked to on the verge of tears again. "Yea, I'm going to kill that wretched baboon. Souta is just a little boy!"

The red rage he felt moved into his face, transforming his fangs and filling the whites of his eyes with blood.

"Sesshoumaru, you're scaring me," she said, her voice going up an octave. "Please. Help me and I'll help you!"

He moved towards her slowly, the claws on his hand emerging from his nail sheaths.

"No no. Kikyou told me how. Only I don't remember...Oh!" She exclaimed -

"She told me that I can help you grow back your arm! The one that Inuyasha hacked off? I can help you grow it back, but I don't really know how yet...but I'm pretty sure she can help me?"

He allowed his rage to explode within him. Unable to even entertain the idea of listening to her babble on any longer, he released one quick deck to her stomach, instantly knocking her out.

Blissful silence.

The sensation of being alone calmed him so much that his demon form faded from his body and he became his normal, pristine self. He was now 100 percent sure that his father was indeed the god assigned to watch over him, and he sighed in frustration.

He lay Kagome down on the wet, muddy ground. The rain was falling gently upon the pine needles and he let himself settle in beside her. He would try to break the spell in the morning, but for now he closed his eyes to try to calm his raging headache.

This arm? Not that he needed it, but it would be nice to have two once more, if only for the pure symmetry of it. He allowed himself a little vanity sometimes.

He looked at his new, unpredictable burden. Her wet dark hair clung to her neck, and her full long lashes fluttered on pale cheeks. His eyes followed her neck, to her collar. She seemed to be wearing some sort of patterned tight gulags. They were relatively functional but too thin. The wet fabric clung to her female form. His eyes regarded her thin shoulders and the space where her collarbones met. His gaze crept lower, to her chest...the fabric was really too thin - barely presentable. The pattern was colorful - were those flowers? He leaned in, his own wet silver hair sliding over her. Not flowers, but, yes - little hopping bunny rabbits. He looked away, slightly flushed.

So. Yes. He had practically volunteered to help this fickle, annoying, ridiculous-garb-wearing teenager avenge her brother. He didn't understand sibling love, but he could understand that if anyone tried to kill Inuyasha he would do his best to kill them, for Inuyasha was his own to kill. He tipped his head back and allowed himself some rest.

.

.

.

Kikyou waited in the hut, not moving, simply listening. Hungry. She was always hungry for souls to animate her. Kaede and Kikyou had experienced hunger in their lives, but human hunger was different than this. This was limbo. Hell even. Beyond the driving rain, Inuyasha was swiftly moving towards her.

Will this work?

She had to play her part here. She knew she wouldn't mess up. But would the plan work? It all depended on Kagome, really.

Inuyasha was nearer now. She could feel his presence. The jagged fury of his energy surged around her. Inuyasha. Clumsy misunderstood hanyou, love of her youth. Pawn.

She stood.

"Kikyou..." He breathed her name, huffing and soaked as he looked upon her.

Parts of herself saw everything more clearly now that she had died, but other parts of her yearned for the vitality of him. Those golden eyes that she had once gazed into so honestly and lovingly were bright as they ever were.

Kikyou had never really seen the resemblance between herself and Kagome. But she understood how Inuyasha had fallen for the girl, that girl who could still look up at him with the same innocence and vulnerability that she had once.

Kikyou extended a lily-white hand forward, bridging the gap between her and the wet hanyou.

"Inuyasha," she purred, touching his face, so gently. Now wasn't the time for sentiment. It was time to play her part.

.

.

.

Kagome tried to sit up but felt as if she were tied to the earth. She blinked furiously, moving her eyes around to see better.

"Kikyou?" She whispered.

Kagome opened her eyes, blinked, and the spinning ground in front of her finally stopped its circular motion. Forest floor, check. Morning sunlight, check. She rolled over, seeing silver hair gleaming gold in the sun. Dog demon protector - check - but not the usual one.

She put a hand to her forehead. She had dreamed of Kikyou again last night. The warmth of purple light that had washed over her in her dream was fading fast. She didn't feel so hot. Her clothes and hair were still damp from the rain last night. Her heart hammered in her chest as she remembered Souta's abduction. What plans did Naraku have for him?

Sesshoumaru stared at her, and seemed to be waiting for something. How had Kikyou lent her the power to bind the likes of this great demon? Why had she?

"I feel like a zombie." Kagome groaned, covering her eyes. She supposed that she actually technically WAS walking dead now, due to the Tenseiga and all. This could be hell, she considered, casting a bleary glance at her unwilling protector.

Sesshoumaru did not seem to be in any mood for light conversation this morning. He had a particular quirk to his eyebrow. She wondered if he had woken up early to try to depart from the scene, only to experience blinding pain. The thought of her having power over him, similar to her "Osuwari" spell over Inuyasha, gave her a little bit of satisfaction. What good is a smug dog demon if you couldn't teach him a lesson?

Unbidden, her brain ran over the events of the previous night: Souta's daze, the chase, the fall, the binding spell, her plea. She looked down at her hands, but suddenly turned white. How utterly embarrassing. She was wearing the bunny rabbit pajamas her mother had given to her for her birthday. Horrible.

She groaned audibly. She needed different clothes, a bow an arrow, ramen, probably some changes of underwear, first aid kit...Oh her mother! With both Kagome and Souta suddenly gone in the morning, her mother and grandfather must be sick with worry!

Kagome decided. She must go back to her time and soothe them, not to mention gather ample supplies.

She looked up at Sesshoumaru, who was still glaring sharply at her.

"First things first, we have to go to Bone Eater's Well." Kagome announced, before letting loose a sinus-shaking sneeze.

.

.

.

Souta came out of his daze abruptly, painfully and inconveniently. It went more like this: he was dumped unceremoniously upon a cold hard floor.

Souta gasped, taking in a deep gulp of dust and dirt from the floor of his cell. He coughed for what seemed like 5 full minutes before he was able to assess his situation.

The first thing he noticed was that the cell he was in was very, very dark. He hated the dark. He scrambled so that his back was against a corner and blinked several times so that his eyes would adjust to the slight bit of light coming underneath the door.

The second thing he noticed was that he wasn't in Tokyo anymore. There was no buzz of powerlines, no whir of computers or honks from traffic. He must be in the country somewhere.

What was the last thing he remembered? Souta closed his eyes hard. Kagome's face swam into view. Onee-chan. She had just come back from the feudal era, and they had dinner, and then he had gone to bed after studying. Could he possibly be having a nightmare? He immediately tried pinching himself, which was quite painful. So no nightmare.

"Hello?" He tried calling out.

"Anyone? Where am I?"

Souta began to cry.

The door slid open. Souta's head immediately shot up and he was blinded by the light from the hall, which had refracted upon his tears.

A figure stepped through.

"No need to call out," the figure intoned quietly, completely void of emotion.

Souta squinted, the other figure's form slowly taking a shape he could recognize.

"You are prisoner now. There isn't escape. Accept it and make no fuss or you'll make him angry."

Souta tried to stand up. The form was a boy, no older than himself, with a ponytail and eyes that looked exhausted.

"Hello." Souta said, moving towards the boy. "Where am I?"

The boy didn't answer.

"I don't know what's happened. I didn't do anything wrong." Souta cursed hismelf as his voice started to waver. He was so scared, but he had to be brave, like Inuyasha.

Inuyasha!

"Inuyasha's going to save me from this, you know!" He started boldly, raising his voice. "And my sister!" The word echoed off the walls of the room.

"Sister." The other boy, his captor, repeated quietly.

Souta took his chance and ran for the door, but only got a few steps forward before he was suddenly lashed backwards. His stomach dipped violently and he felt the impact of a hard surface. Then, black.

.

.

.

Sesshoumaru settled against a tree. He chose his spot so that he was near enough to Kagome but strategically placed so that she couldn't see him unless she turned around awkwardly. He could observe her without her noticing. Her shoulders were slumped, her head down, looking lost in thought. Or she had fallen asleep sitting up. She had asked the village miko for a change of clothes, and the red and white garb was much more appropriate. She was almost half handsome in the colors, he thought. Her bow and arrows lay next to her. He had seen Kagome use the weapon before and was not interested in being on the other side of those purified arrows. Without speaking to him, Kagome tipped over on to the ground and slipped into sleep rather quickly.

He had been surprised at the level of amusement her frustration had given him during a frantic moment earlier today.

"AUUUUGHHHH" erupted the well.

The great dog demon let his curiosity get the better of him.

"NOOOO!" The well continued.

Sesshoumaru looked down the Bone Eater's Well at the crazy girl pounding her little pale fists against the bottom. She was dirty again, getting wet and muddy now, her little fingernails scraping wet dead leaves. His Tenseiga pulsed warmly against his thigh.

He waited patiently as she scurried up the side and emerged, stinking of high heaven.

"I think it's the binding spell," she said after a moment of clearly trying to gather herself. "It's not letting me get to the other side."

"Perhaps you should lift the spell," he said lightly.

"For the last time, Sesshoumaru-" drawing out the syllables of his name, "I don't know how. Good for nothing well!" She yelled, completely beside herself. Her cheeks were flushed. She kicked the side of the stone structure.

He turned away to hide his amused half smile.

Kagome had apparently calmed herself down. "I guess we should go see Kaede and hear what she thinks about this. Maybe she has an idea about where everyone got to."

The old woman had no idea where the others had gone. Sesshoumaru had resented the raised-eyebrow look that Kaede had passed to Kagome when she saw the teenager's new companion. "Inuyasha's brother, isn't it?" She asked of Sesshoumaru.

"Half." He corrected sharply, leaving the hut to wait outside.

Whatever the old woman had discussed with Kagome regarding the binding spell, he wasn't interested in hearing. This whole situation was unpleasant and embarrassing, but it also had the annoying quality of being an amusing diversion from his everyday life.

.

.

.