Hello readers! I know it has been awhile since I last updated this story but I had to make sure it was perfect. Well, as close to perfect as it can be. There's a lot of out of characterness going on in this story but I feel like there needs to be so that it ends the way it should. Which ya'll will find out later! :) It's high time Kagome took the reigns and took back control of her life. At least, in this story, that's the idea. Hope you like it. Please review if you have time. Nice reviews please. :)
Enjoy.
Warning: Cussing is included in this chapter. If swear words offend you, turn back now. Thanks!
Kagome had fallen into an extremely peaceful sleep when a all too familiar tug at the back of her brain had her shooting up to a sitting position quick. She took a few deep breathes to calm herself and ignored the aching in her shoulders at the sudden movement.
"Jewel shard." she whispered, her mind still dazed a bit.
Her mind finally clicked back on and as she shook her head to chase away the drowsiness. She turned to where Inuyasha had settle to sleep, "Inu-...." but stopped when she realized he wasn't there. Her eyes searched frantically for him but he was no where to be found. Just in case she tried again, softly hissing knowing he would hear if he was near, "Inuyasha!"
The lack of response told her he was in deed, no where near here. Kagome happened to glance at one of KiKiyo's soul gathers and felt a rage build within her chest at realizing the reason the hanyou wasn't present.
Then the tug at her brain got stronger. A jewel shard was nearby but it was moving quick. She didn't have a lot of time. Acting primarily on instinct, she scooted out of her sleeping bag, not waking the knit, and slug her arrows over her shoulder, slipped on her shoes and grabbed a bow. Once last glance around and she noticed Sesshomaru's absence as well. Not bothering to ponder where he might be, she walked out of camp then took off as fast as her legs would carry her once out of ear-shot of her friends.
She occasionally altered her path running through the trees. The jewel shard was moving. She just had to find it before Naraku did. She didn't care what the others would say about her running off alone to hunt jewel shards. Her adrenaline was pumping high and the game was on. The swords on her waist where as heavy as ever but she forced herself to forget them needing to prove to herself that nothing would stop her once she set her mind to something. So, she pushed herself harder, needing to find the jewel shard soon.
At last, a figure up ahead was coming into view. She slightly slowed her frantic pace and moved sideways to hid amongst the trees. As quickly and quietly as possible she sneak through the bushes and trees, much like a hunter would its prey, and zoned in on her target. Finally, she caught sight of the youkia. It was a giant lizard youkia standing on it two back feet much like a human would. It was very tall with a black armor chest plate and long black sword in its right hand. Scanning the lizard with her eyes, she realized the jewel shard was in the sword. Which was odd. It was like the sword was controlling the shards power.
She thanked whatever god was listening that this was a lizard youkia. She concluded that was the only reason she was able to sneak up on it as she had done. It couldn't hear well and couldn't smell great either. Lizards used only their eyes and tongue to sense their surroundings.
Prey analyzed she notched an arrow and readied herself to turn and shot. However, by moving her bow out from behind the tree, the lizard saw it and Kagome barely dodged the sword that went slicing vertically through the tree she stood next to. Now, out in the clearing the lizard could pick up her every movement. Kagome stood still watching her enemy.
The lizard stood there staring at her. Its eyes were very large, bulging out of its head and shiny. Kind of creepy to be watch by. Kagome suppressed an unpleasant shiver down her spine under the gaze of the lizard. Yet, by just looking at it, you never would have thought this creature to be aggressive. It didn't even attempt to look formidable in battle.
Kagome slowly raised her bow and arrow at the lizard which continued only to stare at her. It became a stare down almost. Then the sword in the lizard's hand began to vibrate. The lizard took his eyes off the miko to look upon the weapon in his hand. Kagome could have easily killed him for that mistake but could not bring herself to kill a inattentive foe.
Suddenly, a wind circled around the sword and the lizard howled in pain. A ghostly voice boomed from the sword, "Miko, you have more jewel shards. You will give them to me. I must have more power."
It finally dawned on Kagome that the sword was possessed by an evil spirit and was controlling the lizard to battle for it. Realizing the lizard was merely a prisoner to the sword and not a evil creature, Kagome quickly change her target.
"Nay sword. It shall be you who hands over your jewel shard to me." and with that, she fired upon the sword in the lizard's hand. It moved out of the way. Apparently it was not as easy to hit a skinny sword as it would have been to hit a giant lizard. As a result, the lizard charged the miko who quickly notched another arrow and fired again, missing.
Right when Kagome should have gotten a gash torn through her, something grabbed her and jumped to the other end of the clearing. The lizard confused stopped and looked around, trying to sense any movement.
Kagome opened her eyes after her butt hit the ground to find Sesshomaru's face close to hers as he kneeled over her, "Sesshomaru, what are you doing here?" she hissed.
"I sensed an unwelcome youkia on my lands and it is my duty to get rid of it." he replied not moving from his position or moving his hand from her back, holding her up.
"That youkia is being controlled by that sword which has a jewel shard in it. I will take care of it since its my duty to hunt the jewel shards." Kagome boldly insisted.
A deep growl rose from Sesshomaru, "These are my lands and I will be the one to decide how to rid myself of youkia."
Kagome did a decent imitation of his growl back, "But this is my fight and I was here first."
Something flickered within the lords golden eyes, "Very well but know this miko, if you come too close to death for my personal liking, I will step in and finsh it."
Kagome didn't know whether to be insulted or flattered. None the less, she pushed Sesshomaru off her and stood up once more. Sesshomaru stood up as well and stepped aside. Kagome looked up to see the lizard youkia, who had at last sensed movement already charging her. Doing some split second calculations in her head and running through her mind her options, she dropped the bow, yanked out the Tetsuiga, and blocked the lizard's attack at the last possible second.
Kagome's rational mind was silenced as her survival instincts took over and she pushed her weight into her sword against his, forcing him to take a step back. She may be clumsy with a sword, having never used one before, but she was definitely about to take a few lessons. Seeing as that this pushing of the swords wasn't going to get her anyway, she yanked the sword down in a arch motion forcing the lizard to jump back or loose a leg. Now with some feet between them, Kagome readied herself once more. Already, a thin layer of sweat was forming and she could feel the gashes at her shoulders slowly tearing open again.
The lizard lunged forth once more, swinging at her and she blocked. His sword arched around and came at her again which she block once more. She blocked, and blocked, and blocked again. She might have been clumsy as hell but she was blocking. However, Kagome quickly realized that by playing defensive, she could not move offensively. She had to find a way to get the sword out of the lizard's hand. The sword was what was controlling him.
The swords locked again and it became another match of strength pushing each other's sword to the throat. By now Kagome was starting to wear down and her sword was slowly making its way back to her own neck. Pushing back with all her strength, she stepped forward to give herself better leverage and accidentally stepped onto the lizard's foot. He yelped to her surprise. She didn't miss how his hand had slightly let go of the possessed sword and the wheels in her head starting turning.
Suddenly, with some hidden strength, she whipped her sword at him causing him to step back like before. However this time, she swung at him again. It was his turn to block. She swung again, and again, and again, hitting the sword with everything she had. Finally she hit him so hard he stumbling backwards. She shifted around him to behind him, and when he stood up straight again to search her out, her opportunity emerged. She mercilessly stomped upon the tip of his tail, causing him to cry out powerfully and instantly drop the sword he held. The next second, his eyes changed into a different color and his overall size was shrinking. However, Kagome could feel the sword calling the youkia to grab it again.
Kagome shoved the lizard out of the way and planted the tip of the Tetsuiga into the handle of the sword laying flat upon the ground and plunged into it. There was a cracking sound and a bright light emerging. Kagome pushed harder and the sword snapped in two, straight down the middle vertically and the light stopped. The jewel shard laid between the two halves of the sword. Kagome, slowly reached down and picked it up.
She heard a noise behind her and look to see the lizard youkia, a bit smaller now, about the size of Jaken, rubbing his head and groaning, "Oh, thank you, my lady. I wished I never saw that blasted sword. It took control of me. Thank you so much for freeing me. I understand you or your companion could have easily killed me and just have been done with it. What is your name?"
"Kagome." she all but panted out.
He bowed low, "Kagome, forgive me for my hastily leave but I haven't seen my family for weeks! I shall not forget you and shall someday hope to repay your kindness. Thank you again."
With that, he darted off.
Kagome bottled the shard on her necklace and replaced the sword into her belt. Her whole body ached now. The gashes had been reopened and where now bleeding down her chest again.
"I must admit, I'm impressed." Sesshomaru took this time to reappear into the opening. "You seem to learn the sword faster than Inuyasha. Yet you waste your time trying to save the lizard. It would have been easier just to kill him."
Kagome's anger flared up again, "Of course it would have been easier but maybe sometimes we have to do things the hard way to save the innocent. He was innocent. He even has a family to look after. I couldn't live with myself if i didn't at least try to save him. It wasn't his fault for what happened. Are you so damn cold that you cannot even see that he was innocent?"
"Cold, am I? Is that what you think?" he asked slowly coming closer to her.
"Well your not all warm and fluffy if that's what you were hoping for." she spat. Then she eyed the fur pelt over his shoulder and almost smiled at it.
Then, he did something that nearly made her jump out of her skin. He slowly dipped his nose down to her shoulder then whispered into her ear, "You're bleeding again."
Kagome's body and mind froze. A sudden surge of tingles ran down her back and she shivered. Her heart rate had sped up way too quickly.
Then her mind snapped on again, "I realized that." she whispered, not able to get her voice any higher.
"Hmm." was his only reply before pulling away from her and forming his youkia cloud under his feet. He then held out his hand to her. Kagome looked at him shocked and nervous. The sun had risen up now, it was morning and its rays glowed around his body giving him an eliminated figure. He really did look like a god right then. Kagome shyly reached her hand out to his. He grasp her tiny hand in his and pulled her upon the cloud.
Kagome was surprised she could step on it. It didn't look tangible really. Then she felt herself slowly lift off the ground. Without thinking, she scouted her back closer to his chest and held on tighter to his arm that draped over her shoulder. When they got really high, she really pushed herself against him, needing to feel something stable behind her.
Once they were above the trees and high into the sky, Kagome was overcome by how beautiful everything looked. The sun was all the way up now and it shimmered over the tree tops, casting shadows as much as it lit. The cloud began to move slowly. Kagome realized Sesshomaru was doing this for her, so she wouldn't freak out. She quickly found herself relaxing against his body. It was such an enjoyable experience. The cool wind against her face. Sesshomaru's warm body against her back. She blushed at the contact but he wasn't complaining and she was too comfortable to move.
She predicted that her return to the camp site and her companions was not about to be pretty. So she enjoyed this moment while it lasted because it was about to end all too soon.
Down below the campsite came into view. As the dropped down closer, she could see Inuyasha ranting on about something with Miroku and Sango. Even Shippo was fighting. It halted instantly when Sesshomaru lowered himself and Kagome into the campsite. All eyes feel upon them with their mouths ajar.
Rin reacted so unfazed by it and rushed over to the two who hadn't moved from their position from upon the cloud, "Lord Sesshomaru! Kagome!" she wrapped her arms around both their legs because they stood so close. Out of routine, Sesshomaru reached down and placed a hand on the girls head. Kagome had reached down as well and placed her hand on her shoulder. Rin giggled at feeling both of them then released her grip on them.
Now Kagome moved a little so that there was space between her and Sesshomaru.
Then the explosion erupted, "Why the FUCK where you out with Sesshomaru!?"
Kagome stepped back at the hanyou's outburst. She found herself speechless for a moment. The anger and jealously that flashed in his eyes scared her. She absently thought he might lose it and go demon on her. Especially since the Tetsuiga wasn't there to help control his demon blood.
"Inuyasha, calm down. I'm sure Kagome has a reason behind whatever she did." Sango attempted to calm the hanyou.
"Really Inuyasha, we all know and trust Kagome. Let us hear what she has to say before we get ourselves worked up." Miroku added.
It was then Kagome realized that they were all pretty ticked.
"Kagome, have your wounds reopened?" Sango now asked, concern overriding her frustion.
Kagome nodded, "I'm sorry guys, really."
"Just tell us what happened." Miroku suggested.
"Okay, its like this. I woke up in the middle of the night when I sensed a jewel shard. I sensed it was really close and moving away really fast. So, of course my first reaction was to wake Inuyasha but, said person was no where to be found at the time." At this, the hanyou dropped his head in guilt while Sango and Miroku glared at him. "It was really late at night I was woken so quickly I wasn't thinking straight so I grabbed my bow and arrows and just took off after it before I really knew what I was doing. All I could think of was getting the jewel shard before it got away.
I raced through the forest as fast as my legs could take me which was harder than normal cuz of the weight I was carrying. After awhile I came close to the shard and glanced at a youkia. Attempting to surprise instead of charging into it, I crept through the trees and bushes closer to it til I could easily see it. I was a lizard youkia. He had on a chest plate and carried a sword in his hand. I was going to shot it but it saw me and sliced the tree I was standing behind but I moved out of the way quick enough. When I had the arrow aimed at him, the sword began talking. I realized it was controlling the lizard youkia and so I shot the sword instead of the youkia. And missed."
"Typical." Inuyasha grunted.
"Whatever. So apparently I made it mad and it charged me. I wasn't able to move quick enough but Sesshomaru jumped in just in time to move me out of the youkia's path and a good distance away. The lizard couldn't find me for a moment after that. Then Sesshomaru is all like, this is my land and I'll take care of the youkia, and I'm all like no way, it's my job to gather the jewel shards so back off, and then he got mad and said something like I make the rules in my land or something, then I'm like, I got here first, it's my fight. Then he was like fine but I'll jump in and finish it if you can't so I'm like whatever.
After I got him out of my way, the lizard has seen me and was seconds away from slicing me up. I don't know what came over me during those few seconds but I opted for dropping the bow and yanking out Tetsuiga. Good thing I do to, cuz my time to contemplate had all but run out. I block his sword. That's about it. Then we struggled a bit til I pushed him back. Then I clumsily blocked a few more til we ended up in a struggled again. I didn't mean to but I stepped on his foot and he almost backed off. So, I got this idea of how to get the sword away from him. I hammered his sword with mine as hard as I could til he stumbled back and then as he was getting up I moved around him and stomped on his tail. He yelped and released the sword. I rammed Tetsuiga into the hilt til the sword snapped in two then grabbed the jewel shard." Kagome held up her bottle to show the new shard in it.
"After that the lizard man ran away and I was like barely able to stand. So, Seshomaru thought it would be easier to fly back here and so we're here." Kagome took a deep breathe.
"Well, I'm sorry I got a little upset at you for disappearing, Kagome." Miroku smiled.
"Yeah me too. I should have known you had a good reason." Sango added.
"Keh." was all Inuyasha got out before, "So tell me wench, why were you so damn close to that bastard on the cloud thingy of his."
Kagome sighed, "Just get over yourself, Inuyasha."
He growled at that.
Kagome felt Sango's hand on her arm, "Come Kagome. Let's get you some fresh bandages."
So the girls wandered off the the stream while Miroku and Inuyasha cooked the food.
While Sango was wrapping Kagome's shoulders, she just had to ask, "So, what do you think of Sesshomaru?"
"What do you mean?" Kagome blurted out, started by her friend's question because she had just been thinking of him.
"Well, I mean, the past few days are the rare time he's not trying to kill you and Inuyasha and he's actually acting civil towards all of us. He's different now that you hold his sword. He still has the same snuddy, uppity attitude but apparently he is going out of his way to ensure your health and safety. So, I was just curious as to what you thought about all of this?"
"Oh, well, yeah I noticed he's keeping me safe but it's probably only because of his sword. I think its more of him protecting his sword than me. And that whole thing about him allowing me to ride Ah-Un when I was dragging behind was probably just him getting aggravated with my slow pace." Kagome concluded sadly. When Sango kept quite she continued in her line of thoughts, "I mean, I want to believe he's protecting me and he's worried about mebut I don't think that is the case. Why would he anyways? He's probably really pissed off at the fact that his sword his trapped with me. Can you image how aggravating it must be for him to have to chase around some little human girl just because she has something of his?"
"Well, I haven't really seen any signs of aggravation. He doesn't really seem all that upset about the whole thing. Don't you think if he was that he would of at least said something? A few degrading comments here and there. He really seems so calm about it. I'm beginning to wonder just how much Sesshomaru really can hate humans when he allows a human girl to hang around him all the time. And not just hang around, he protects her and ensures her safety and happiness. I really do think he cares about her even if he'll never admit it."
"If he's capable of caring for one human, is it possible that he might care for others?"
Sango got a sly smile across her face, "Does that mean you want him to care about you?"
Kagome flushed bright red and waved her arms about as if blocking some unwanted thought, "Oh, no,no, no. I didn't say that. I was just wondering." She followed it with a fake laugh.
"So," Sango began slowly again, "what do you think of him?"
That picture of him looking down upon her after just saving her was the first thing that popped into her mind and her mouth moved before she could stop it, "He's beautiful." she almost sighed. Her eyes suddenly widened as she clamped her hand over her mouth. Her blush deepening.
Sango laughed softly behind her, "I agree. I never thought I used that word on a man but by the gods is he."
"You-You think so too?" Kagome asked surprised.
She shrugged, "What woman wouldn't?"
Kagome smiled and nodded.
"But I'm getting the feeling you're thinking about it more." Sango teased.
Kagome gasped, "Sango!"
Sango laughed.
Finally they were done and walked back to camp with Sango chuckling every now and then and Kagome blushing.