Sesshoumaru vs Doors of Decency
Sesshoumaru stared at the sliding door of the shed knowing full well how to operate it, but yet was still hesitating. He'd spent the last few hours analyzing the flash light and all the writings on the Coke can to keep his mind off the human girl he'd upset. He was trying to help himself by helping her face reality only for her to continue to reject his words of advice. She accused him of giving up. That didn't sit well with him. He didn't admit defeat lightly he merely wanted to explore every possible outcome before proceeding further, and there was a high chance the demoness that threw them into this situation wasn't going to let them leave just because Kagome had faith everything would work out.
He gave one more glance at the flashlight before shaking his head. If this world had such a device that could create light at will couldn't there be something that would get them passage home? His father's fangs had been able to open portals to the nether world, so this being the future wasn't there the chance that similar techniques could have been improved upon? Was the Tetsusagia somewhere in the world? These were the kind of topics Sesshoumaru wanted to explore for finding a way back home, but Kagome was being unreasonable.
Outside the door Sesshoumaru could hear the birds chirping indicating that the morning sunrise was almost upon them. At least that hadn't changed, but he was still weary of walking outside. Drinking the so-called 'Coca-Cola' and being unable to compare its taste to anything else he'd ever experienced was forcing him to continue to be weary of all the noises and sounds he was hearing beyond the door. He'd been too busy coming up with theories on the purple haired demoness and why she did this to him and Kagome to even begin contemplating what was out there.
"This whole world smells toxic," Sesshoumaru told himself picking up traces of oil in the air, "but those sounds in the distance have quieted for now."
He wasn't going to ask Kagome for help. He shouldn't have had to as he felt entitled to it. Not only was he her better, but the two of them were targeted together so that made her to partly to blame for the situation. They could solve no problems if he were left to cower in that shed, but he couldn't just blindly explore her world either. He needed her to tell him what to expect, and that wasn't possible if she didn't stop acting like a child.
After a few more moments of hestiating Sesshoumaru finally slid the door opened getting a feel for the shrine in the early hours of the morning. He walked around slowly with gold eyes gazing upon anything that dared to make sound or move in response to the light morning breeze.
"That tree," Sesshoumaru noted to himself recalling what Kagome had told him earlier about the giant tree that reigned over the shrine, "that's where InuYasha slept is it not?"
That much was obvious by the large scar in the middle of it where the hanyou's body had been. InuYasha was such a fool. Naraku's trickery or not he'd never fallen into that position if it weren't for the love of a human woman. InuYasha was another who didn't heed Sesshoumaru's advice. Before his arm was cut off he tried to warn his younger brother about how loving one so weak would in turn weaken him. Apparently the advice was given to the wrong person. It was Kagome who'd become weakened from her relationship with the hanyou. It seemed she was so convinced that she was entitled to a happy ending with her new husband she refused to accept the unpredictable nature of life.
"When InuYasha fell for that priestess," Sesshoumaru was referring to Kikyo, "he probably thought he was entitled to a peaceful existence as well only to have it all taken away from him. Are all those with human blood this ignorant? Do they not realize there would be no misery if they didn't go through life with such expectations?"
"Is the demon that cried about not getting his daddy's sword honestly hating on others for being entitled?"
Sesshoumaru let out a snarl. The voice was coming from behind him but yet he couldn't smell anything. He could recognize the voice enough to know that it was the demoness that banished him and Kagome to this world. So she was able to mask her presence as well? It seemed the woman had every tactic covered.
Sesshoumaru didn't even bother turning around, "So was my assumption correct? Are you a creature that cannot be beaten?"
"Are you asking if I'm a God?" her voice responded, "I heard you express your theory to Kagome. You were right about many things, but me being a deity is not one of them. I've simply been around for a long time, and with age comes experience as they say."
"So you can be destroyed?" Sesshoumaru finally turned to her with his hands on his sword, "I will simply have to find a way to destroy your barrier."
Amethyst was still wearing the kimono she'd adorned when she first ran into Kagome and Sesshoumaru. Just like before she didn't take any sort of a defensive stance in response to Sesshoumaru looking threatening. She seemed completely confident that she couldn't be harmed by him.
"You hurt the girl by trying to get her to throw hope away," Amethyst shook her head in a disapproving manner, "but yet it's okay for you to hope that you can defeat me? I was going to leave you alone in pout in peace but your hypocrisy was just so entertaining. Please don't ruin the fun by boring me again. You'll try to strike me with your sword, I'll erect my barrier, and then you'll probably wreck the shrine in the process. Make things difficult for Kagome and it will be harder to get her to cooperate you know?"
"I do not need advice from the witch that put us in this situation," Sesshoumaru growled taking his hand off the sword.
He wanted to rip that woman to shreds for pushing him down the well and sticking him in this unfamiliar world. He wanted to make her feel the agonizing pain from his miasma in retaliation for putting his demonic energy into Kagome's body for some sick twisted game. However, if he wasn't strong enough to put an end to her miserable life yet he might as well make use of her visit and get some questions answered.
"You traveled through the well?" Sesshoumaru asked her.
Amethyst nodded, "So we're going to have an adult conversation? Sesshoumaru you're impressing me. Did you see how ridiculous the girl is acting and have taken on the burden of being the sensible one now? I thought you'd be the boring one but I've been enjoying your logic dives. The way you put together evidence to create theories revealing your thought process is something to be admired. I guess I can reward you by answering your questions. Yes I traveled through the well. I am the one who controls it at the moment. How and why doesn't matter. I came back through once you two left the well."
"How do you know of my conversations with the wench?" Sesshoumaru continued to press for information.
"Oh maybe I am a God," she shrugged, "next question."
The truth was before she went to the feudal era to hatch a scheme involving Kagome and Sesshoumaru she placed small cameras within the well and the storage shed. Amethyst used her power and strength to protect herself and get her test subjects to this world, but for everything else she was relying on technology. Sesshoumaru wasn't ready to understand how video recording devices worked so she wasn't going to explain it to him. Even Kagome would be a bit lost as the demoness' technology was quite superior to that of her own time. The reason she was still even here to be able to have the conversation with Sesshoumaru was because she'd just finished sneaking around installing additional cameras.
Sesshoumaru wasn't satisfied at all by that answer. If she could not be trusted to reveal her true race than how could he believe any other answers she would give? Was this new enemy going to tell lies just for the sake of confusing them?
"Is the woman really to bear my child?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Indeed. Her precious husband obviously wasn't going to get the job done and you've been letting all that potent demon DNA go to waste, so why not have some fun with this whole thing? In the wake of a new era of peace free of Naraku and the sacred jewel why not bring a new life into this world to inherit the legacy?"
"The child would be your perfect specimen you spoke of? What do you intend to use this child for?"
Amethyst thought back on the way she worded things when cursed Kagome. Did she make it sound like getting Kagome pregnant was her whole purpose for disrupting their lives?
"Nothing," she shrugged, "just out to have some fun is all. I don't want your pup I just want to see what happens. I'm observing Kagome. Her habits and thought process through an unpredictable life altering event with no InuYasha to rely on."
"If the girl is the one you are interested in why involve me? I am not one to be observed or used as entertainment."
"Why you? That's a long boring story you wouldn't be interested in. All that matters is you are not InuYasha nor are you someone the girl considers a friend. It makes things much more amusing for me."
What Sesshoumaru could gather from this conversation is this woman was another Naraku. She was using him and Kagome's misery for entertainment purposes. She'd lied when she said she assaulted them for the purpose of creating some sort of perfect hanyou specimen. Kagome would be going through the pain of bearing another man's child at his displeasure all to create drama for the eyes of another.
"Project Baby Blues," she mused to herself, "that's what I'm calling this experiment. Sesshoumaru you will tell Kagome everything I've passed on to you right? She will start showing and feeling pregnancy symptoms soon. Poor foolish stubborn girl. You were actually showing concern for her weren't you? You don't want her reacting poorly or going into shock so you were trying to help her accept reality."
"Send her back to my world," Sesshoumaru commanded, "if her dealing with the pregnancy is what interests you then send her back to InuYasha. Witness the pain those two would go through and leave me out of your observation."
"No can do," she shook her head, "this world is better for you two. You'll realize it soon enough. I will never let you two return to your own time. It would ruin my experiment. Accept that this is your new home and try not to disappoint me."
"If you cannot be forced to obey and continue to hide behind a barrier like a coward then I will find another way."
"Go ahead. I have no interest in fighting you and you cannot defeat me, but I also have no desire to interfere."
"Interfere? Isn't that the very essence of what you've done?"
"No all I've done is put the pieces in place. I will not do anything else to disrupt your lives from this point forward other than keep the well sealed. I look forward to seeing how things proceed. I will take my leave now Lord Sesshoumaru. I need to shower. By the way out all your questions you didn't bother asking my name."
"I do not care to know it."
"It's Amethyst, but you can call me Aimee. Whether the girl accepts her new life or falls into an inescapable darkness is of no consequence to me. I just hope to see a good story that will benefit me in my future endeavours. It's a shame my goals have disrupted your lives, but as you pointed out when looking at that tree not everything goes according to plan simply because a person hoped it would. Hope is a poison. It disgusts me."
Sesshoumaru wanted to know more trying to understand what one would gain by witnessing the strife of others and get a clue as to how they could escape this world, but before Sesshoumaru could open his mouth or threaten the girl with his sword she escaped the shrine at an incredible speed clearly not wanting the conversation to move forward. She had said she wouldn't interfere, but it was apparent that this woman was going to be residing in this world along with them for her observations.
The bitch might've answered a question or two, but none of it helped Sesshoumaru. He was irritated that Kagome had been absent from the conversation. Now it would all on him once again to tell the girl harsh truths. Last time he was merely trying to get her to accept a possible future where the well didn't open, but this time it seemed to be a certainty that things weren't going to be easy for them. He wondered what Kagome would say or do this time to run away from the truth.
Following her scent he found himself back in the wood structure that housed the well. She'd been checking on it again to see if it would respond to her call. After everything he said to her she was still holding out hope. Sesshoumaru did agree with Amethyst to some degree. Hope was a poison that was holding back progress.
He found the human girl sleeping with her arms tucked under her chin leaning against the well, but she didn't seem to be having a peaceful slumber. It was the opposite for she seemed quite disturbed. Had Sesshoumaru's lecture on reality given her nightmares? Either that or she was just cold. Whatever she was wearing had no sleeves and the morning air gave a slight chill.
Sesshoumaru knelt down beside her and considered waking her to discuss what he'd learned, but decided to have the decency to at least wait until the sun burned in the sky above him. If they were to have another round arguing perhaps a fully rested mind would help her see things clearly.
When he moved in closer he took in her scent. She smelled a lot more clean than she had when they were on the other side no longer carrying the scents of InuYasha or the sweat of a hard day's labor. This allowed him to examine her more thoroughly as he took in a breathe looking for hints of illness or additional distress. He narrowed his eyes finding the scent of pregnancy. Only one day had passed and already her body was letting demons such as him know her condition. Apparently this pregnancy was not going to be standard. He'd expected as much since her carrying his child without being mated was quite unnatural.
He did not want a hanyou child and he felt no need to acknowledge the future offspring as a pack member as this was not a consequence of his actions, but he could not abandon Kagome as long as he was in her world. At least not until a solution was found or he got a feel for the world and knew its rules. He needed her, but she couldn't fully be useful to him until the child was born. His priorities was now getting her to accept their situation as well her role as a mother so she could be prepared to come up with a plan to balance all of her responsibilities.
The last thing he needed was her to catch a cold. Since he was seemingly unaffected by the cold he began to remove his armor so he could he untie his kimono, which he used to drape over her whole body before retreating to the corner waiting for daylight.
"The feelings of boredom have ceased," Sesshoumaru admitted to himself quietly, "that much is certain."
When he considered the possibility that he couldn't return he held regrets for the time he'd wasted the last year or so. With Naraku finally destroyed and his desire to claim Tetsusaiga put aside he should have been working towards his goal of supreme conquest rather than asking why the Bone Eater's Well did what it did. He'd allowed himself to succumb to boredom because he didn't know where to begin when it came to meeting his goals, or maybe wasn't ready to entact them until Rin's welfare stopped being a distraction. Boredom should've been a reward for obtaining everything he wanted, but now it was something he'd never be able to experience again. Not here in this world with Kagome.
Boredom was indeed no longer something he could feel as he spent every idle minute thinking on all the smells and items of interest from this world. His thoughts became overwhelming as he came up with many theories on what else this 'future' had to offer, which resulted in more questions. When he did examine the shrine before retreating to the storage shed he hadn't seen any talismans or barriers for warding off powerful demons as though they weren't a threat. Was the demon known as Amethyst capable of masking her scent since she was from Kagome's time? Was that an ability all demons in her world had? If he could learn to become immune to divine magic and mask his presence perhaps he could gain more than just knowledge of advanced trinkets.
"No," he heard a whisper as Kagome was seemingly talking in her sleep, "InuYasha will come for me."
"Stupid woman," he growled, "even in your sleep you believe in him? Why won't you solve your own problems instead of relying on others? You might be human but you are not weak."
Kagome in her sleep wasn't thinking on her current situation, but instead problems of the past. She was having a nightmare that had been reoccuring the last couple years or so. It was of her being in complete darkness all alone as the sacred jewel sat beside her mocking her to coax her into making a wish. She was told over and over again that unless she did she'd spend all eternity in the darkness. In none of these dreams did InuYasha ever come for her as he did in real life. She'd always wake up scared and terrified to her husband telling her it was alright and she'd never be in that situation again so there was no reason to cry about it.
Stupid woman was the first thing she heard when she woke up scared.
"InuYasha," she cried turning to the voice before her heart sank upon seeing Sesshoumaru.
When she saw the demon Lord she had hoped that this whole situation was also a bad dream. After all why was Sesshoumaru's chest completely bare with his armor laying on the ground? That wasn't something he'd do in unfamiliar territory, so it couldn't have been real.
"Oh," she remarked upon discovering that his kimono was shielding her from the cold.
When she removed the fine silk from her body goosebumps immediately covered her arms when exposed to the cold air telling her that this was no dream. She was still stuck in her own time with Sesshoumaru of all people by her side. Did he concern himself with her comfort as a way to extend the olive branch? Would they still be able to make peace after the fight they had where she'd assumed he'd given up hope on the well opening?
"You didn't have to do that," Kagome said folding his kimono up, "i'm just a stupid woman after all. If I freeze out here it's my own fault."
"You are a stupid woman," Sesshoumaru said content to see she was treating his possession with respect, "no longer a stupid girl. As a woman you will never again draw a conversation to a close by running away like a child or cry and yell when it is unwarranted."
Kagome found Sesshoumaru to be condescending again, "I had every right to-
"I expect better of you," Sesshoumaru seemed to catch her off guard with his statement, "and if you do not wish to be cold you should hold off on returning my kimono. We are going to try and converse about our situation again."
Sesshoumaru expected better of her? If he said that to get her attention it worked. Was that his way of showing her respect while at the same time being down on her? She'd never figured Sesshoumaru for the passive aggressive type for she was use to seeing him just plain being aggressive. Then again it was hard to describe the relationship she had with Sesshoumaru even outside of their current situation. They weren't enemies for she seen him many times without issue when he'd visit Rin in the village, but every time she tried to greet him he always gave her a mean glare and didn't respond. They actually hadn't spoken in two years, and now he was expecting her to be comfortable with meaningful conversation?
"The demon that did this to us is currently residing in this world," Sesshoumaru told her ready to begin dialogue, "she has confronted me and made it clear that she has control over the well. She passes freely while blocking any attempt you make. We cannot use the Bone Eater's Well to return home."
Kagome froze up, "She's here? You two didn't fight did you? Is my family alright? She didn't do anything did she? Why is she here and why did she push us through the well?"
Sesshoumaru took in the barrage of questions, "All she did was discuss the situation with me."
Kagome didn't know if she had the right to feel relieved. If their enemy was indeed as strong as Sesshoumaru feared she was glad he didn't try to fight her, which could have caused damage and perhaps another punishment, but was it all right to just accept that the woman was living in her time? She recalled demoness talking in a way that showed she wasn't from the feudal era, so perhaps she wasn't a threat to a defenseless human population like Sesshoumaru was.
"Did she tell you what she wants? Why she did this to us?"
"The answer is lacking," he shook his head, "her position is to make us suffer the weight of her actions for observation. She prefers this world."
Kagome looked back down the well, "I don't care what she says Sesshoumaru. She can use whatever demon magic she wants as long as I-
He interrupted her, "You still believe that you can control the well with your feelings? Is this not where we left off in our earlier conversation? We're done wasting our time with this. She made it clear we'll not be using it."
"Sesshoumaru I can't give up. I know you don't understand but you have to believe me. There was no reason it should have worked the last time yet it-
He interrupted her again, "Then make me understand woman. Make me understand why we must stand idly by staring into a hole in the ground. I've already made it clear to you that I do not rely on magic or faith."
Kagome let silence wash over them for a bit. Would he even listen to her if she tried telling him what she thought or would he interrupt her again to tell her his way was better?
"I can't make you understand!" she finally snapped at him showing she didn't want him to be the ruler of conversation, "it wouldn't be in your nature to get it. I have to believe in InuYasha. I have no other choice. You were there when I disappeared into the meido weren't you?"
Sesshoumaru gave a nod, "You were sent to the shikon jewel. I've heard what happened."
"I believed InuYasha would come for me and he did. He jumped in his own meido. He risked his life for me. I mean he'd done that many times already, but never like that. I can't turn my back on him. I won't. I gave up this world for him because I wanted to be with him. I can't imagine losing him."
He could smell tears as Kagome felt the weight of her separation anxiety. At the moment she saw her world as that dark place the jewel had her imprisoned in all those years ago. She was lost and scared needing someone to tell her it'd be alright to get the strength to continue on.
Sesshoumaru shook his head, "You will not give up this exercise of faith because you believe you owe InuYasha? You are mistaken, and if InuYasha were here he'd be a fool to take your side in this. I saw InuYasha jump into the meido to find you. He did not sit on the ground in the dirt waiting for you to come back to him. He took action."
At least both parties engaged in the conversation were both trying to see things in a new light. Sesshoumaru was using InuYasha's sacrifice to light a fire in her. She had been telling herself it was InuYasha's turn to come through the well to come and get her, but maybe it was her turn to put in the hard work to get back to him.
"He had faith that jumping through the meido would work," Kagome told him calmly, "you're right but realize it takes both action and hope Sesshoumaru. I know you're right, but what else am I supposed to do? Neither of us can make a meido. We don't have any ideas or know where to begin."
Sesshoumaru no longer wanted the Tetsusaiga as he was quite content with his Bakusaiga, but he was still annoyed that he lost the ability to open a route to the nether world. They could have probably used such a passage to traverse through time, but because his father believed InuYasha deserved every advantage the fang could give him Sesshoumaru had to find another solution.
"You told me this is the future," Sesshoumaru was going to reveal something he'd been thinking about while she slept, "we make way through the forests in search of my brother. We use his Tetsusaiga. If we find him we'll get answers. He'll tell us whether or not he was able to go through the well to find you."
Kagome blinked. That was actually a pretty good suggestion and an impressive idea to be given by one who was new to the whole time travel thing. However, there were issues with it and Kagome didn't know how to tell Sesshoumaru her concerns. It brought up to many questions that Kagome herself had never acknowledged or asked. Why were there no demons in her time? Were they all in hiding like the purple haired one, or were they extinct? If there was an InuYasha in her time wouldn't she have found out about it? Wouldn't he have sought her out at some point?
"We can't just run through the woods," Kagome shook her head, "there isn't much forest land in Tokyo. I think I would know if there were a dog eared boy with white hair hanging out at the park. I wouldn't be able to find him without your sense of smell and you're not ready to take to the city yet. We need time, but I guess it's somewhere to start. Nice idea."
She shot him a smile to let him know she was impressed with his plan, but on the inside she was screaming. What was she supposed to do? Something told her that letting Sesshoumaru know the status of the future wasn't a very good idea. They probably wouldn't find InuYasha, but maybe they could find the Tetsusaiga. That was always a possibility, though it'd be hard since it would be in the form of a rusty blade.
Sesshoumaru on the other hand was not fooled by that smile in the slightest. The girl was hiding something from him. He could smell deceit in the air.
"So you prefer to stay by the well rather than searching?" he asked.
"For now until you're ready," Kagome said, "it can't hurt can it? I don't want you going into freak out mood on me again. I have to get you use to this place first. It might take a while, but you're learning fast."
It was still odd to her that InuYasha never had any problem navigating her world while Sesshoumaru seemed so lost, but that was okay. Easing him into everything would give them time to process exactly what was going on and maybe they'd come up with other ideas for possible solutions along the way.
Sesshoumaru was the one who felt targeted now as she was calling attention to his unwillingness to traverse her land freely. It was true he wanted a better feel for his surroundings before going off on a journey, which is why he wanted her assistance in the first place. However, he did not like attention being called to his weakness. The girl needed to remember her station.
"Forty-days," Sesshoumaru decided to come up with a compromise, "that is how long I will allow you to linger by this well. If it does not open up for you we abandon that prospect all together. In that time you will explain the rules of your world to me as we confront our other issues."
The other issue being Kagome's pregnancy. He'd made it clear that he conversed with Amethyst, but Kagome was still not asking any questions about her condition. This was disappointing to Sesshoumaru. He'd made progress in getting her to see other solutions outside of the well, but she was still in denial. This couldn't stand. It would make things complicated when her condition became more apparent if she didn't face it now.
Kagome ignored what he said about other issues completely, "I have to go back inside. I was promised breakfast. It's been awhile since I had good home cooked meal that wasn't just plain rice, so might as well make the best of it. You don't mind hiding in here or the shed for a little bit longer do you? I might be able to think better on a full stomach."
Sesshoumaru didn't mind keeping himself scarce from other humans. He assumed they'd be much like Kagome and be unaware of their place when speaking to him. If they did anything to offend him he couldn't punish them if he wanted to keep the girl's cooperation. It was best to just keep to his own space and ignore them completely. Kagome was already unwanted companionship as it was and he did not require anymore. However, something was bothering him.
"You said you cannot explain my presence to your family," he recalled, "why is this? Are they not aware you are married to a half-breed in a different time?"
"They've met InuYasha," Kagome told him, "and they know I married him. Just a habit of mine I guess to not give them the full truth. Leaving them again will be hard and if they actually knew how dangerous things were on that side it could upset them. They know I went looking for pieces of the shikon jewel but never about how much danger I was in. They see you they'll ask how I know you and I might let it slip that you've tried to kill me a couple of times. They'll be scared of you and be mad at me for being a liar. It's just easier to keep you a secret."
"Hmm," was all Sesshoumaru said in response as he analyzed every bit of her statement.
From what Sesshoumaru witnessed Kagome always did manage to find herself in harm's way, but humans falling prey to demons was normal everyday life. If she had been of his world and not had her fate entangled with his brother and the sacred jewel she'd still see her fair share of demon attacks or be a victim in one of the many deserted villages she'd come across. Sesshoumaru was not going to take on the sole blame for his world being dangerous. If he were to represent all the dangers of his world, however, did that mean this place was safer for humans? Was that why there was no sutras or magic protecting the shrine? Why was her family not concerned with creatures such as him?
"Anyway thanks," Kagome had been holding his kimono against her chest before finally handing it back, "didn't make the bad dreams go away but you stopped me from becoming a Popsicle."
"Popsicle?" Sesshoumaru rose an eyebrow not recognizing the term.
"Never mind," Kagome shook her head as silence fell upon them again.
Now that Kagome was putting another abrupt end to the conversation they were left thinking on how awkward it had been to engage the way they had. Sesshoumaru with his chest completely exposed, free of silk and armor, and she wearing a tank top a bit too oversized. Her breasts were barely covered by the collar of the shirt. If it were only to inch down a little lower he would see everything.
Kagome aware of it tried to pull the material up to cover herself with a slight blush hoping that he would just put his clothes back on so they could move past such an awkward encounter. Sesshoumaru, however, couldn't let her get off that easy.
"Is all the clothing of this world so revealing?" Sesshoumaru asked taking back his kimono, "you use to run around my lands with your legs exposed. Now it is the opposite. You have no sleeves."
Kagome's blush was about to grow further upon hearing that her clothing had been too revealing for him, but she calmed herself when recognizing that he was just being curious.
"No not at all clothing," she explained, "this is just all there was for me to wear right now. I like being comfortable I guess. These sleeveless shirts are tank tops. They keep my arms and shoulders from getting too hot you know? Your kimono is comfortable but I could actually see you pulling off a white tank. Maybe some jeans and a hat to cover your pointed ears."
"No thanks," Sesshoumaru shook his head not wanting to wear the so called tank top, "I do not care for your world's clothing from what I've seen thus far."
"If we go to look for InuYasha though we'll have to- never mind."
She knew that she was giving away too much information. Sesshoumaru wasn't dumb, so what was she thinking? She almost told him that they'd have to disguise him to look like a normal everyday human. If he'd heard that the jig would be up.
"We'll have to what? I was generous in giving you a time limit with the well woman. You will not insult my generosity by withholding information."
"I was going to say we have to make it look like you belong here. People don't just wander the streets dressed like you carrying swords. You might need a bit of a makeover if we don't want to draw attention from people, or other demons."
"Another demon taking issue with my clothing? Is that the petty things creatures of this world worry about? If one takes issue with me they are free to challenge me. I wish to know the strength of your population before returning home. A battle over something so frivolous would be an education."
Him wanting to test the strength of the population was exactly what she was trying to avoid.
"Forget I said anything," Kagome sighed, "I just don't want us starting fights or getting into any drama. I'm gonna get some breakfast. Sure you don't want me to bring you anything? You have to get hungry at some point."
"It is not time for me to feast yet. As I've already told you I do not eat human food."
"Noted, but what do you eat then? Please don't tell me it's other humans or something gross."
"I prefer crab and fish," Sesshoumaru stated matter-of-factly.
"Seafood?" Kagome seemed surprised, "I thought a dog would be much more into hunting instead of fishing."
"Precisely why I dine on water dwellers. It has a rare taste."
"Humans eat crab and fish to, so I don't know what you mean by not eating human food. You've seen fishing villages before haven't you?"
"My meals are not the bottom feeders you humans catch in your nets. The flesh of my prey would be toxic to humans and it would be impossible for their spears to pierce their scales."
"Oh," Kagome frowned, "you're talking about demons aren't you? I didn't know there were crab demons. I mean I saw a fish demon once. I didn't find it toxic."
"My preferred food is a rarity in your world?" Sesshoumaru asked, "or have they gone extinct?"
So it seemed that Sesshoumaru ate lesser demons. That was kind of disturbing, but at the same time it probably was comparable to her race eating regular seafood in his mind. When it did come time for him to feast and they were still stuck in her world she didn't know what to do for him. He'd have to be made to suck it up and eat regular food like InuYasha did.
"I've just never heard of any in this area," Kagome lied, "maybe it's your fault. Maybe you hunted them into extinction."
"I highly doubt that," Sesshoumaru shook his head, "the shores I frequented had an abundance of prey. Once I become use to the disturbing sights and sounds of your world I shall hunt for land prey then."
"Your body must work different then InuYasha's. You are making it sound like you need to eat something big every once in a while and it keeps you going. He just eats a couple meals a day and isn't as picky as you."
"InuYasha does not have a beastial form that needs sustained," Sesshoumaru reminded Kagome that the form she was seeing him in was not his true self.
"Oh," she frowned, "kinda easy to forget I guess. I've only seen you like that twice. So you have a really big stomach then?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, "I feast as my true self and keep to this form so my stomach remains full. I do not wish to require food as frequently as you humans."
Sesshoumaru's eating habits were definitely going to be a problem then. Kagome really hoped that the well was the answer, because Sesshoumaru would need to learn the truth about her world before he starved to death. He couldn't take to his beastial form wondering around Tokyo looking for crabs that didn't exist.
"Well maybe a snack later," Kagome shook her head, "but I guess suit yourself for now. I'll be back soon alright? You promise you won't leave?"
"I will not make promises to a human. I will not leave for I require your assistance. I will be here."
Kagome gave him a smile accepting that answer. She might have shed a tear or two when it came to InuYasha, but at least they were leaving this conversation on good terms. Things between her and Sesshoumaru were still pretty awkward, but at least he wasn't her enemy anymore. His words were harsh, but he was beginning to understand her and make compromises. He either really wanted her help, or he finally accepting her as a sister-in-law and wanted them to help each other. Whatever the case was she was thankful he was obeying her wishes and staying put.
Sesshoumaru allowed her to smile and think things were alright, but truth be told he was unsettled by that whole conversation. Once she left he put his kimono and armor back on with an annoyed glare. In his mind he was showing that woman undeserved kindness just to be paid back in lies and denial. She was hiding something about her world from him and the demons that either did or did not inhabit it, but the worst offense was her not wanting to talk about her pregnancy. It was going to be an issue that needed dealt with and quickly. He couldn't let her deny it anymore if they were to proceed.
"I need her," Sesshoumaru admitted to himself, "so it must fall to me to protect her now that my brother is not here. How can I protect her from herself? She can't act like a child anymore. Not in this situation."
The conversation ended no differently than the last one in his opinion. She was still acting as though she were spoiled by fate and as long as she denied the negative aspects of their situation it'd all just go away. He wasn't lying when he told her he expected better of her. Kagome had earned his respect and he couldn't let her just throw that away because of another demon's game. If she could beat the jewel than she could beat this, so why was she so scared?
However, unlike last conversation she wasn't going to get away with this insult. He would make her face her fears so they could come up with a solution that would be suitable.
"Kagome?" her mother asked cooking omelettes over the stove as her daughter came back inside.
"Still here," Kagome answered sitting at the table, "fell asleep by the well. Nothing yet."
"I don't know how to respond," her mother admitted, "I know you want to get back to InuYasha but I don't want you leaving without saying goodbye. The Bone Eater's Well sure has gotten touchy. There's always today or tomorrow."
"I know," she sighed, "I use to just jump in and out of it without ever thinking about it. Ever since the jewel made it disappear I've been scared of it. It gives and takes my happiness away on a whim. Either that or it's always been controlled by another."
"This experience has you thinking on the well a lot then?"
"I kind of regret never listening to gramps when he went on about it. Now that I'm back here I'm forced to ask all sorts of questions I tried to push to the back burner. InuYasha has a much longer lifespan than me, so shouldn't he be in this world somewhere?"
Kagome was avoiding asking out loud why demons didn't seem to exist in her world, but was being careful just incase Sesshoumaru could hear her from outside.
"Asking me about time travel?" her mom shook her head, "never seemed like anything more than science fiction to until my daughter visited the warring states era."
"Mom," Kagome looked up from the table with interest in her eyes, "we never really talk about it do we? How lucky I was to have a family so understanding. I mean it's all real. I fell through time. I've done something no other human has done and you never seemed to question it."
"What are you asking me Kagome?"
"Why you were so cool with it I guess? I wouldn't let my child go to a place so dangerous."
"Same reason I let you say goodbye to us to be happy with InuYasha. Kagome I'm your mother. I know how stubborn you are. When you've made up your mind about something there is no stopping you. Besides I always had faith you'd make it back safely."
Perhaps it was best for Sesshoumaru to never meet her family. If he thought she was bad with her hope and faith in InuYasha than he probably wouldn't be able to stand her mother. Her mother always seemed to know the right thing to say for every situation. It'd definitely get under the demon Lord's skin.
However, Kagome knew it was wrong to think on Sesshoumaru too negatively. He was doing pretty well for someone as closed off as him being thrown into a whole new world. They'd had a couple of arguments, but she knew his intentions were good as she now regretted storming out on him the night before.
Kagome got up from the table and walked over to the fridge removing a can of Coca-Cola. The action hadn't gone unnoticed by her mother who served a couple of plates that held kitchen covered omelettes with sausage and toast.
"Soda this early in the morning?" her mom asked, "wouldn't you rather have some juice?"
"I haven't had soda in forever," Kagome said, "so might as well get my fill."
It was for Sesshoumaru since he didn't seem too offended by its taste. Unfortunately the empty calories of a soda probably wouldn't be enough to sustain both him and his bestial form, but at least it was something.
"I need to make sure to buy some more when I have the chance then," her mom continued to serve the food, "get you some clothes as well that you can take with you- InuYasha no."
Kagome's eyes lit up when she heard the name of her husband before she noticed her brother's dog on the floor looking up at them with its dopey smile whimpering for food.
"Stop begging," her mother tried to take a stern voice, "he's cute but I still prefer cats."
"I would just prefer a different name," Kagome frowned before looking at breakfast, "looks delicious. I can't wait!"
While Kagome dug into her food Sesshoumaru stood outside the door that lead from the yard to the kitchen. It seemed he was going unnoticed as the women were caught up in their conversation and meal. The taiyoukai was tired of Kagome just walking away like nothing was wrong when they had a huge issue growing in her womb. He had agreed to stay hidden, that much was true, but since she was failing his expectations of how a mature capable woman should be acting he would fail her expectations of him keeping any sort of promise he didn't even make.
He wanted to open the door and go to her, but he found himself frozen at the door unable to turn its handle. He could smell food on the inside as well as Kagome, but he could gather by slight noises that there would be things in the home he wouldn't recognize. He didn't want to get confused by it all and distracted in his mission.
Kagome's mother had been ready to ask her daughter some more questions about how her marriage on the other side of the well was going, but had a hard time thinking as the dog began to sit at the door and bark.
"Someone out there InuY- boy?" her mother asked the dog.
Before anymore questions could be asked a pajama wearing Souta had appeared in the kitchen rubbing his eyes. He'd been weighing his options when it came to waking up early and getting some breakfast, but if the dog was going to be acting up then it seemed he would have to linger in the world of the living.
"Probably needs to go to the bathroom," Souta shook his head walking over to the door and opening it, "come on boy let's- InuYasha!?"
Kagome shook her head not wanting to turn around and get her hopes up, "I still can't believe you named him that Souta. Every time you say I think he's here and he's-"
"Wait you're not InuYasha," Souta continued, "who are you?"
Kagome's heart sank as her body froze. She definitely didn't need to turn around to know who Souta was talking about. It had to be Sesshoumaru. They'd seen him and there could be no more hiding him. She needed to think of a way to explain him as well as a strategy to keep everyone calm, but her mind was just drawing a blank as a rush of fear overtook her. All she could do was think on everything that could possibly go wrong from this point forward, but she wasn't prepared for what came next.
Sesshoumaru stared at the boy. By scent alone he had gathered that the teen was Kagome's sibling. He'd been so close to overcomeing his hesitation and opening that door, but it seemed Sesshoumaru's choices had been taken away yet again. Now he was standing at the threshold with a boy in front of him, some sort of dog sniffing at his leg, and view of a kitchen set up that was quite unfamiliar to him. He tried to ignore that for now as he failed to answer Souta's question and looked straight at Kagome who was refusing to acknowledge him.
"I cannot leave Kagome unattended for too long," Sesshoumaru stated coldly, "not while she is pregnant with a pup."
(End Chapter)
AN: a bit more rehashing the same kind of conversation. I just really want to get to them to modern age shenanigans but my constant need to keep things realistic is eating at me. Sesshoumaru and Kagome rehash the same conversation again only for Kagome to keep being in denial, so Sesshoumaru makes it so she can't do that anymore. Making things realistic with Kagome's mother is kind of hard, cause why is she so damn supportive? Maybe she is fine with Kagome doing whatever she wants as long as it ain't drugs. Idk.
