Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha
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Chapter Four: The Demon with A Human Heart
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Sessomaru had managed to reach the estate before Kagome and the others, but when they reached the front gates, they were opened and the main courtyard was busy with village workers hauling loads of crops and tools. Sango and Miroku looked at one another in confusion before following the determind Kagome into the estate grounds. Rin saw them, and ran to greet them.
"Miss Kagome, Miss Sango! It's good to see you!" She beamed, and then she saw Inuyasha and her smile turned into anger. "No! Not you! My Lord does not wish for you to be here!"
Inuyasha growled. "I didn't want to come here ya little brat!" He took a step towards her.
"Sit boy." Kagome glared at him as he hit the ground. "Rin, where is Sesshomaru?"
The villagers closest to them stopped their work in surprise. "What's she talking about?" One said.
"Sesssomaru?" The whispers spread. "The demon lord that vanished?" Another. "Why would he be here?"
Rin's anger disappated. "I think you all should...come inside." Rin grabbed Kagome by the hand and lead them inside to the dining room, where Sesshomaru himself was being bandaged by a few young women and an elderly woman fussing with his face.
"Please, madam Aya." Sesshomaru winced and touched the woman's hands. "It's not as bad as it seems."
"Ya got that right." Kagome stood with her hands on her hips looking at him. "You've got some nerve! We help you and you take off like always, just being a jerk!"
He stared wide eyed at Kagome. "Priestest Kagome." He said clearly, even adding in a surprised shock to his voice. "I thought you were looking for the demon."
Kagome's face fell. "Seriously?"
"Um," Rin pulled on her skirt. "Lord Kazuya told us you helped him and would probably be coming this way."
The stress in the child's eyes when she addressed Sesshomaru made Kagome look up at the wounded man again. "Oh..." She nodded. "Of course we looked, but I was more concerned if you made it back or not."
Sesshomaru watched the women dressing his ribs and arm, "Yes I made it back. Thank you for your concern." He met her eyes, and they seemed to glow their normal amber for a few moments.
"Right." Kagome laughed nervously.
"If you need lodging I have pleanty of space, make yourselves at home. Rest and look again for the demon tomorrow." Sesshomaru let the women help him back into his shirt before he stood. "Come, I will escort you to a room and have a few bed rolls brought to you."
"Ain't happening." Inuyasha growled from the doorway.
"Inuyasha." Kagome warned him.
Inuyasha scoffed. "Fine, if you want to stay here, knowing what you know, be my guest, I'll be out here." Inuyasha left, growling the whole way.
"Why is he so stubborn?" Shippo mused curiously.
"Because it's Sesshomaru." Sango whispered to him. "You know the rivalry there."
"Yes," Sessomaru came to stand beside her. "And these people must not find out about that rivalry, if you don't mind." He warned her, again his eyes flashing amber.
"How about you explain to us how this happened to you first, then we will talk about keeping it to ourselves." Miroku taunted.
Sesshomaru glared at the monk for a long moment before turning away from them. "Very well, but first, your room?"
"Thank you." Kagome said joining him as they started down the corridor.
"Do not thank me just yet," Sesshomaru said coldly. "I am not comfortable with this thus far, and I'm not sure how much longer I will abide by my gift."
"Gift?" Kagome asked.
He eyed her for a moment. "Come," He opened the door to a vast room, allowing them in before himself. He lit the candles and sat down at the table in the center of the room. "Please bring something strong for my friends and I, and perhaps some dinner as well."
"Yet Lord Kazuya." She the young and bubble young woman that had followed them.
"And inform Riku we need five bed rolls brought to this room." He called after her.
"Will you explain now?" Miroku asked.
Again Sesshomaru glared at him, but he told them everything. From the rumor he'd heard, to his journey and arrival at the temple where he found Arikami. When he told them everything up to the very moment they sat in, and then sat quietly, sake in hand, they stared at him.
"So..." Shippo started. "You can't be mean or seek revenge on anyone? Or you will become a one armed demon again?"
Sesshomaru sighed, sipping his sake. "Yes."
"At least until you find love." Sango said. "And then what?"
Sesshomaru glanced at her. "I haven't thought that far ahead. Arikami assigned me five years to complete my task and if I can't, or if I fail and search for vengance then I will suffer more than I did before as a demon lord with one arm..."
"What kind of love did her God wish you to find?" Miroku asked. "Because if it's that of a woman, I'm sure I could help you.
"Don't be absured." Sesshomaru scoffed pouring Miroku and himself another sip of sake. "You're reputation of a love life is long, and only that of a lecherous monk."
Miroku blushed, and accepted the sake. They drank, and Sesshomaru looked at Kagome. "I don't know what kind of love I'm to find, and it's rediculous to have to. Love brings weakness and disaster for a demon, Inuyasha was proof enough during my father's exploits in love."
Kagome felt anger arise in her chest. "But he saved Inuyasha and his mother and died for the woman he loved, is that so wrong?"
"Yes," Sesshomaru stated, "Or else he'd be alive."
"That's not fare Sesshomaru, and you know it." She said sadly. "If Arikami's God wanted you to find love what if he is trying to open your eyes to finding a wife?"
Sesshomaru laughed, and the sound was so surprising everyone jumped. He laughed so hard there were tears in his eyes when he calmed down. "A wife? The idea has never struck me, and I don't plan for it to now."
"But what if it is the only?" Sango asked. "Would you try to find someone?"
"Demon huntress I can assure you I do not plan to marry. It's a hassle I would prefer to avoid." He said honestly emptying one of the sake bottles.
"But you're not answering her question," Kagome pointed out. "If it is the only way, would you try?"
Sesshomaru turned somber, and thought for a few minutes, looking at the sake dish in his hand. "If," He started, "It were the only way...perhaps."
"Alright," Kagome held the same frightening determind air that her friends feared. "Sesshomaru, I will help you find your one true love!"
"What?" He stared at her.
"Well," She crossed her arms. "I come from a time where match-making is way too common, and I'm sure I could help you."
Sesshomaru slightly sook his head, a worried smile on his lips. "Please don't. I'm not sure what would go wrong."
"Go wrong?" Kagome exclaimed. "Ha! Please! After we get those jewel shards, I've got to go home for a final exam and I'll be back in a week. When I come back I will have everything I need to help you."
Sango and Miroku's faces fell. "She's at it again." Sango said, frightened of the look in Kagome's eye."
"Yes, so it would seem." Miroku laughed nervously.
"Are we in for a world of trouble?" Shippo asked.
"Maybe Shippo," Sango said softly. "Maybe."
Sesshomaru left them when their beds were brought into the room, and retired himself. Kagome sat up with a notebook, writing down ideas to help Sesshomaru. Miroku and Sango looked worriedly at one another before going to sleep, leaving Kagome to herself.
The next day they were all up before the villagers had arrived for their daily tasks, and Rin greeted them in the dining room. The kitchen staff had arrived early and made breakfast. Sesshomaru had not joined them yet, but he soon came in and joined them.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked.
"I hardly slept, I thought about every available woman in the villages I've been to in the past year. I thought you might like to take a look at the list I've made." She pushed it towards him.
"Kagome..." He only looked at the list for a moment. "Please don't help me." He said pushing the notebook back. She was staring at him when she looked up. "What?"
"You used my name." She said smiling. "You're being so nice."
He sighed. "I told you last night, this is who I have to be, I'm sure you understand it's not by a favored choice."
"Yea," She said. "But maybe it's to help you find love!"
"Kagome..." Inuyasha slid the door opened hard. "Another villager disappeared. His daughter was with him when they went looking for a cow that got loose last night. They got to close to the forest, but he made her run away. Come on." He said flatly, ignoring Sesshomaru completely.
"Right, come on!" Sango grabbed her weapon and Miroku followed closely behind her.
"We'll be back." Kagome said grabbing her bow.
Sesshomaru watched them leave. Stubborn girl... He thought. Give up your idea of helping me.
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It didn't take long for Kagome to find the glow of the jewel shards, and even less time for Inuyasha to slay the giant wasp queen when it emerged from the cave of a hive she'd created for herseld and her wasp minions. Inuyasha stood panting looking at the now shredded corpse. His anger was not sedated, and he growled in frustration.
"Well that was easy." Kagome said walking over and claiming the jewel shards. "And there were four." She smiled at Inuyasha. "Hey that was quick, since when did you..." She finally saw the look on Inuyasha's face. He was angry, and it almost vibrated off of him as he sheathed Tetsaiga. "Inuyasha what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" He snapped. "Kagome you're falling for whatever game Sesshomaru is playing. He's still after my sword and I know it! And he was here in the forest looking for the shards! He's up to something!"
She shook her head. "No, Inuyasha really he's not." She walked over to him. "A sorceress gave him his arm back by the blessing of her god, and he has to pay for his gift. But he can't because the gift isn't money, it's a feeling. He has to find Love and he can keep his arm and he'll become a demon again. But he can't fight you, or think anything bad or he will loose his arm instead."
"Is that what he told you?" Inuyasha laughed darkly. "What a liar! I can't believe you actually think that's true."
"Inuyasha he's human. Completely, and he's vunerable unless he's in a life or death situation. He has long enough to protect himself, so long as there is no malice intent and he isn't the one that caused the fight." Sango chimed in, disappointed by Inuyasha's refusal to believe their word.
"Sango, you too?" He shook his head. "Unbelievable, he's up to something, just wait."
"Inuyasha, perhaps if you had seen the way he behaved last night you would have believed it yourself." Miroku folded his arms. "I'm with Sango and Kagome, you're being rather unreasonable. He made no move to attack us yesterday when Kagome brought to our attention who he was. He left, refusing our help like normal, but without a confrontation."
"Miroku." Now Inuyasha shook his head in disbelief. "That's it, you all want to believe him fine! I'm getting out of here. If I hear any news of another shard I'll meet you there so that Kagome can find the shards." With that he left them, jumping into the trees and heading off in the opposite direction of his father's now occupied estate.
Kagome watched him leave, sighing heavily. "Inuyasha what am I going to do with you?" She muttered to herself.
Sango touched her arm. "Let's go tell Sesshomaru we got the shards, see if he needs anything else from us before we go."
Kagome nodded without looking at her. "Right."
Upon arriving they found Sesshomaru sitting on the steps leading up into the house, a tray beside him with tea and sake. He was already indulging, and he waved for them to come join him. His cheeks were pink.
"Seems like you've had a rough morning after we left." Miroku noted.
"Rin has gone to spend time in the village with a couple that is about to have a child, Shippo went with her. The mother asked me for permisson because of how helpful Rin was on her last visit." He sipped the sake in his hand and closed his eyes.
"So it's driven you to drink?" Kagome took the sake dish from his hand and gave him a cup of tea.
He chuckled, "Kagome explain something to me please?"
"Huh?" She blinked at him. "O-ok."
He looked her right in the eye. "What is it like to love?"
Kagome blushed. "What? Why are you asking me? I've only been out of high school for a couple of years and I haven't had any time to think about...well...that! Man how much have you had to drink?"
He shrugged. "With how protective my brother is of you, I figured the two of you had..."
"Whoa!" Kagome held up her hands. "Hold it there! Inuyasha and I aren't like that! We're partners, we work together to get the Jewel of Four souls restored, and when we're done...well I guess I'll be coming back less..."
"So the two of you aren't lovers then?" Sessomaru asked, placing the tea back on the tray and taking another helping of sake, but he poured two and offered one to Kagome.
Kogome's blush depened and she took the offered sake and handed it to Miroku, who took it silently and sipped it. "Look Sesshomaru, Inuyasha made his feelings for Kikyo clear a long time ago. He and I haven't been very close since then, but we still battle for the shards of the Jewel because it's our responsability. He protects me and I help protect him."
Sesshomaru leaned against the pillar at his back. "But you love him, and I know at one time he felt the same way for you."
Kagome sighed. "Maybe at one time, but not anymore."
"Well then, how can you not answer my question?"
She eyed him as he sipped his sake, offering more to Miroku, who chose to sit a step above Kagome, next to her. Sango sat on the ground, watching them, but Sesshomaru in turned handed her sake as well. She smiled, seeming amused. Kagome sighed and put her chin in her hand.
"Love..." She started. "It's like..." She shrugged and closed her eyes. "I think of it as if you're swimming in water, and then, just for a few minutes, you go under. It's the feeling of floating in that water, and watching life go on above the surface. It's so peaceful, and when you're with the person you love, it's like nothing can stop the two of you when you're together. You're always warm and happy. Love causes many things." She looked up at the clouds. "Especially happiness."
Sesshomaru watched her quietly. She was staring up at the clouds, but she was lost in an old memory, her eyes almost glittering with emotion. He hadn't seen them do that before, he usually saw anger and determination. Than again he'd only really seen her with he and Inuyasha fell into battle. He had watched them from afar before, trying to figure a plan of attack, and he saw how Inuyasha and Kagome would smile and talk with each other.
"I'm sorry he's such a twit." Sesshomaru said to her, closing his eyes and sipping another helping of sake.
Kagome blinked out of her thoughts and looked at him sadly. "He's not a twit, he's just on a seperate path." She looked at Sango. Her friend smiled at her.
"If you need to stay to gather supplies for your trip before you go you're more than welcome to." Sesshomaru offered.
"Do you do anything beside sit around?" Kagome asked.
Sesshomaru blinked at her. "Yes, but it just so happens it is a quiet day and there were no plans that haven't already been taken care of or being tended to. I'm to myself for the day, so I chose this." He motioned to the sake. "Being human has taken a toll on me, and I see why many find the urge to drink."
Kagome couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face, or the laughter that escaped. Miroku and Sango laughed with her a little, but Sessomaru looked curiously at Kagome. "W-welcome to having the heart of a human, Sessomaru."
He chuckled a bit, "I never thought I'd say this, but when we're not caught up in battle, it's nice to sit and enjoy a conversation with you."
Kagome smiled at him. "You too."
By the days end Kagome and the others had retrieved Shippo from Rin and the supplies they would need for their trip back to Kaede's village. They took his offer to rest for the night, and left first thing in the morning. Sesshomaru watched them go, and returned to his office to finish paperwork. Many thoughts were in his head, about what Kagome said, and how she seemed to light up at the thought of love. How she had said welcome to having a human heart. The ways he'd changed, was he living a human life now? He sighed, looking down at the paperwork in front of him. Life would carry on until things changed, he was on terms with this, so until the opportunity arose, he would carry on. Originally five years went by quickly for him, but the past eight months had been slow, and felt like years. He was almost out of a years time, but he wouldn't panic yet.
"I'll see what time has to give." He said to himself. "After all, I'm a demon with a human heart now." He looked out of his open door to the courtyard with thunder rumbled in the sky above and a light rain begain to pour.
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End Chapter Four:
A/N: I can almost hear your wheels turning. Has she reached the twist yet? Is Kagome really going to get a chance to help Sesshomaru like it said in the summary? Well, your answers will be given in the next chapter. It'll be up in a little while. Ready? Distorter out!
