A/N: Hello dear readers! Back with another chapter in the story. I am going to try and update more often, I hate being left in suspense as a reader so I'm not going to do it to you guys if I can help it! Thanks to all who have left reviews, they are all much appreciated! Think of it as motivation guys, lol. But anyways, this chapter is mostly about Sessh/Kagura fighting the emotions in themselves. Action is coming in the next chapter though! Hope you guys enjoy! Remember reviews are always welcome, even if they are constructive criticism, I welcome them all!
I do not own Inuyasha, if I did I would be rich by now!Sesshomaru stood on the side of the cliff overlooking his camp and could not help thinking about what Kagura had told him. 'Despicable' he thought as the image of Kagura's scars came into his mind. What kind of demon was this Naraku? He was merely a pathetic half demon, no better than that worthless half brother of his. Sesshomaru may be a cold blooded killer, but there were some things even he regarded as vile, and the damage Naraku had inflicted on Kagura was appalling, even for that wretch. Tensaiga had finally silenced itself as he reflected on what Totosai had told him earlier. Try as he might he could not get the old man's words out of his head. 'There is someone you must save.' Sesshomaru thought about this for a moment longer. His stoic, unflinching expression never changed, but inside he was wrestling against these unwelcome feelings. He knew the person the old man was talking about, and he knew what he was implying, he must kill Naraku to set her free.
"Kagura" her name barely escaped his lips as he turned his gaze up towards the sky. His unwavering gaze never hinting to the turmoil he was feeling inside.
He began to feel the same feelings that had come to him when he saved Rin, feelings he promised himself he would never allow to happen again. He felt sorry for Kagura, not only that but he felt like he needed to save her. He felt almost disgusted the he, Lord Sesshomaru, felt pity for anyone, it was beneath him. Caring for someone made him weak, that was, after all, how his father had died. The great dog demon of the west, Inu No Taisho, had fallen while trying to protect his miserable human wife and abomination of a son. Not only that, but he had died at the hands of a pathetic human no less. His joints tightened at the thought of his father. He recalled how he felt on the day he died, disgusted. On that day, as he was looking at his father's grave, he vowed the he, Sesshomaru, the great Lord of the West, would never allow himself to get attached to someone. Attachment showed weakness and he was anything but weak.
All that changed when he saved Rin. Rin's smiling face suddenly came to his mind as he let the smallest of inward smiles go. She was kind to him after the fight with that miserable half demon, Inuyasha. Her face, bruised and swollen still managed to smile at him when she saw him. The day he found her lying dead on the path was the moment something in him changed. As cold and uncaring as he was, he never wanted to see a child die. In that moment, he saved her, not even thinking about it. He had claimed it was merely to test out the Tensaiga, but his true intent was never revealed to anyone, perhaps even he did not want to believe the real reason he did it. Since that day, something was different in him, and it troubled him greatly. He actually felt attachment to the girl, actually cared for her well-being. Since that time, he had become very fond of Rin and even thought of her as his own pup, although he dared not let it show. In the past, he had told himself never again would he save another, and let that weakness overcome him again. It was troublesome enough caring for Rin, now he was presented with another he was obligated to protect.
His promise had held good until he saved Kagura. He knew full well what he was doing that day, even if he did not understand the reason he did it. He had come to save Kagura, not to defeat Naraku, and since that day, he had felt troubled over it. He felt the same weakness he despised in his father take over him, and he acted out of instinct, not rationality. For if he had been rational, he would've let Naraku kill Kagura and been on his way. Kagura, who was always plotting against Naraku, trying to get him to help her kill the repulsive half demon. Kagura who kidnapped Rin. Kagura who was made from Naraku. At one time, she disgusted him, but he had changed his mind about her after the day Rin saved her, after being severely wounded by Goryoumaryu. That day she seemed so desperate and vulnerable, a side he had never seen from the wind sorceress. He felt the smallest twinge of sympathy for her that day, and since then he found himself thinking about her occasionally.
Her terrified face flashed in his mind, and Tensaiga started vibrating once again. He held the hilt with his hand 'Tensaiga, do you really deem this woman worthy of saving?' he asked of the sword. At that moment, Tensaiga became still and Sesshomaru glanced down at his sword.
"Very well" he replied. He would save her from Naraku, and that would be the end of it. He resigned himself to not let these emotions consume his thoughts anymore. As soon as Naraku had been dispatched, he would send her on her way and be done with it, his duty would be fulfilled then. She would then be gone, and he could get on with his plans of ruling an empire, and not have these annoying feelings clouding his head.
"Kekeke, Kagura, do you really think it is that easy to get away from me? You will never be truly freed from me, even if you have your miserable heart back. You will always belong to me as long as I am in this world."
Kagura woke up with a start, Naraku's laughter still echoing in her ears. This dream had felt so real, almost like Naraku was standing right next to her, whispering these things in her ear. Still slightly disoriented, she sat up and took in her surroundings. Rin lay next to her on Ah-Un, snuggled up close to the massive dragon. Jaken lay a few yards away, on his back beside the campfire. She continued searching to see if she could find Sesshomaru and felt slightly relieved when she could not see or sense him anywhere. She was thankful he could not see her in this sorry state, but at the same time was disappointed he was not around. She slowly rose up from the ground so as not to disturb Rin and walked back to the stream.
She stood there, watching the moonlight dance on the gently flowing water, and slowly looked at her own reflection. 'What has happened to you Kagura? What has happened to the strong willed, fiery demoness you used to be? You were the wind, and none could tame you.' Her eyes drifted away from her reflection as she said quietly "That was before Naraku and his relentless punishments." Before she had prided herself as being independent and strong, but after so many beatings, anyone would lose their spirit. 'Naraku, you bastard, that's what you wanted wasn't it?' She gritted her teeth at what he had done to her, what he was still doing to her; even now that she had escaped him. "Humph" she scoffed. Who was she kidding; she was still not free from him, for as long as he lived she knew he would keep coming after her. And as long as he was alive, she could never get him out of her head. Her thoughts drifted to the scars on her back, symbols that she was merely his property, no more than something he laid claim to. Her emotions swirled around her, she could not tell whether to be sad or angry.
'Do not worry Kagura, Naraku will never harm you again.' Sesshomaru's words rang in her head. This brought the tiniest of smiles to her sad face; she still could not believe he told her that, after all, he had not been acting like he gave a damn about her since they met. Her thoughts wandered to Sesshomaru. She remembered what she had felt the first time she saw him. He was gorgeous. After that day, she found any excuse she could to go and watch the great dog demon Lord from afar. Never getting close enough for him to sense her. He was the only thing that brought light to her world of darkness, the only thing Naraku couldn't take from her. She scolded herself for letting her train of thought go this route. 'Don't get your hopes up Kagura from one little sentence.' This was Sesshomaru after all, the great and powerful Lord of the West, and she was merely damaged goods. What would he ever want with her? That small smile vanished from her face, as she realized the cold reality of what she was thinking.
She took her fan out from her kimono and let a small gust go, sending ripples across the water. She smirked to herself at how drastically things had changed within the last day. Never would she have thought that she would be camping with Sesshomaru, no, that he allowed her to stay. She sat down beside the stream and pulled her knees up to her chest. She tried desperately to comfort herself, as she had done so many times before. She was a mess. First with Naraku plaguing her dreams every time she slept, and now Sesshomaru dominating her mind during the day. Kagura knew that her mind was not the only thing he held sway over, he also had her heart. She smiled at the irony 'I just got my heart back and already someone has stolen it again.' She started tapping her fan nervously against the side of her leg. She suddenly felt anger swell over her, 'No, he cannot have my heart. I am the wind, and I belong to no one.' She adopted the same stubborn attitude that had gotten her through so many situations before. Maybe, it could help her with this too. As much as she repeated this in her head, she still didn't believe it. Inhaling deeply, she tried to silence the part of her that wanted to give her heart to him. This inner struggle was getting quite tiresome. She got up from the ground and tucked her fan back into the sleeve of her kimono.
Looking out to the water once more, she let out an exasperated sigh. 'I don't even think Sesshomaru is capable of love. Don't high level demon's like himself only mate for power or land?' She puzzled at her thoughts, because she herself, had no idea. The only form of a teacher in her life had been Naraku, and she would not will herself to learn from him. It was true, she knew some about demon customs, but that was only what she had learned from observation. The fact still remained that even though she appeared as a full grown woman, she had the ignorance of a child when it came to such matters. Yet another reason she would not let herself be infatuated with him. Even if all her dreams did become reality, and Sesshomaru really did love her, what would she do then? She didn't know how to behave in a castle, to act like royalty. The Lord of the Western lands deserved someone regal, from distinction, and she was anything but. She sighed once more in frustration about how little she knew about her own race. In truth, she didn't feel like she belonged. She had been born of a half demon, and although she was full demon, she never felt accepted. It must have something to do with her relationship to Naraku. Her stomach churned, like it or not she would always be connected to that bastard.
"Kagura" Rin's tiny voice came from the distance.
Kagura turned and saw Rin, sitting up on Ah-Un and looking around. She started making her way slowly back to the campsite.
"Oh there you are Kagura! Rin was worried, Rin thought you might have left Rin" she said happily, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"No Rin, I'm not going anywhere" Kagura said softly as she curled back up beside her. 'Atleast not right now' she added silently as an afterthought.
"Good" the child said as she scooted closer to the wind demoness.
Sorry for the short chapter, I thought it was longer! The next one will be, so look forward to it! Also more action, these chapters are more or less trying to set the tone for the story. Fight scene coming up! Maybe a little citrus...who knows? Stay tuned to find out!