Author's Note:
Thanks all for reading and commenting!
Disclaimer: Be warned, since I haven't followed the series closely in years or seen the Final Act, I'm pretty sure some things won't fit into cannon.
Pendulum : The Past
Chapter 4: Guessing Games
The air was as chilled as Kagome's shaken nerves. Around her, the forested mountainside was reduced to bare nothingness; there wasn't even a hint of a broken twig or blade of cut grass. It was as if all of it had dissolved into thin air. Kagome was powerless to purify and had no bow or arrow to defend herself with, not that the latter would do much against the intimidating monster at her back.
In that moment, Kagome was faced the most basic of impulses. Fight or flight. Perhaps it was stupidity, perhaps it was just her nature; regardless of which, Kagome found strength and with feigned confidence, she turned on her heel to face the stoic Sesshomaru with her chin lifted and hands upon her hips. "So you're not a chicken after all." she remarked, proud of her efforts to keep her tone from quivering. Unfortunately her shoulders couldn't boast of the same feat.
Sesshomaru eyed her candidly, his expression revealing little. Then, he looked to the tremoring Shippo behind her. "Leave us." he ordered.
"Y-yeah but–" the kitsune's protest was silenced by the narrowing of the inu daiyouki's gaze. "Right." he breathed taking a step back. "G'luck Kagome." he wished, seconds before he poofed into a pink balloon to float away. Despite the fear seizing her chest, Kagome's heart still found the means to soften at the reminiscent sight of Shippo's transformation. Some things just never changed.
For all of her boldness, Kagome suddenly felt very aware that she was now alone with not only a powerful being, but one who'd confusingly hadn't decided to kill her for her insults. When she first met him, Sesshomaru tried to kill her simply because she could lift a sword. For as long as she'd known him, Sesshomaru had given her as much attention as a dog would a dead skunk.
However then was not now and now Kagome held his full attention, bearing the full weight of his intense gaze that by itself tested her resolve to stand tall. Even when dressed in a white collared shirt and khaki slacks, there was no two ways around it; in this time or the other, Sesshomaru was still unquestionably a terror to behold. "So, um..." she began, clearing her throat and the hesitancy in her voice. "What're you doing here?"
Slowly his head tilted as he studied her, his hair spilling from his shoulders onto his chest. "Did you not call for me?" he posed, his words spoken slowly and with even measure.
Frowning, Kagome crossed her arms. "I meant here in this time." she clarified moodily in a huff.
The brow arched above his painted eye rose higher. "Are you asking me why I'm not dead?"
"I–yes–no. No." she refuted, before second guessing herself. Was that what she was asking? Really she wanted to know why he was in her time but truthfully, both questions were one and the same. "Sorry. I guess that makes sense. Um..." awkwardly, Kagome fidgeted, before moving to hug her shoulders. The air was still cold and shorts and a tank top did little to keep her warm. Sesshomaru's gaze narrowed. Slowly, his mokomoko slithered from his shoulder to coil itself around her and Kagome wasn't sure whether to liken the thing to a boa constrictor entrapping its prey or a snuggly sleeping bag.
"Oh-uh...thanks." she offered, marveling the fur encasing her. It was exceptionally soft and indulgently warm.
With an arrogant sniff, Sesshomaru lifted his chin. "Your incessant shivering is a nuisance to this Sesshomaru."
Ignoring his inability to receive gratitude, Kagome pulled the highest coil of fur over her head like a hood, intrigued as the pelt shifted to ensure that every inch of her was kept covered and warm. His thoughtfulness only supported the argument that the Sesshomaru before her was nothing like the one she knew of the past.
"So, where are the others?" she asked lightly.
Sesshomaru blinked at her question. "The better question would be, why aren't they here?" he posed.
The answer was swift, simple and somber. They were gone. "Oh." she breathed. "Inuyasha?"
At the mention of his brother, Sesshomaru paused briefly as a reminiscent expression ghosted across his face. "Time has little mercy to those plagued with mortality, to all except you." he informed. "For you, time bows and becomes your subject."
"M-me? What are you talking about? That was just the jewel, I had nothing to do with it." she reasoned.
"Hn." he sounded, his tone absent and unconvinced. Noting his dismissive regard, Kagome couldn't shake the feeling of suspicion niggling at the edge of her mind.
"You know something, don't you?" she accused.
Sesshomaru, studied her briefly before raising his chin. "I know many things." he confirmed.
"Tell me." she requested. "How–What happens?"
A gleam of intelligence sparkled in his eye as he inquired, "Are you asking that this Sesshomaru indulge you in a lesson of history?"
"Uh, yeah." Kagome agreed, her brows pulling together at his redundancy.
With a sniff, Sesshomaru answered, "Do they not teach you such things in your school? If it is your desire to know the history of what was, I suggest you apply yourself to your studies." A blush of mortification tinged her cheeks. How did he know of her slipping grades? Sure her trips back and forth to the feudal era had impacted her schoolwork and attendance, but still!
"That's not what I meant!" she corrected defensively.
"But it is what I meant." he clarified, fixing her with a hard glare that strongly suggested that she hold her tongue and let him speak. "In the past, your insight into the future gave you the guise of intelligence. Back then it was intriguing and novel. However in regards to this era, there is still much for you to learn."
"I–I know plenty!" she insisted, her fists balling at her sides.
His eyes glittered like a hound spotting a trapped partridge and Kagome felt uneasy for it. "Recount to me the events that led to the end of the samurai class during the Meiji era." he proposed.
"Is that really what's important now?" Kagome challenged. "Here I am, thrown into the future and the first thing that happens is you making out with me." she reminded. "Why? Why is Shippo here? How long have you two been here? Why didn't you say anything before? What–what happened between us? Why did you do that? You owe me an explanation Sesshomaru."
At her insinuation, his brows twitched. "Owe?" he echoed. "Are you sure it is I who is indebted?"
"You– You–- You... You kissed me!" she snapped. "Why? Why did you do that? Here I am one minute minding my business fresh out of the feudal era, the next...you! Why?"
Honestly, the idea that somehow she might end up in a relationship with this ice statue of a youkai was mind boggling. Sesshomaru was nothing like his lively, warm hearted younger brother and was as interesting to talk to as a cold bowl of oatmeal...if said bowl of oatmeal had fangs, claws and tasted of death.
With a dismissive sniff, Sesshomaru regarded her words with contempt. "Let me clarify the circumstances you find yourself in." he began. "Currently you are demanding knowledge that I am unwilling to supply and aside from throwing childish tantrums, you can do nothing to change this."
"You can't do that!" she protested.
"Can't I?" he challenged. "You are in no position to make demands of this Sesshomaru." The coils around her tightened fractionally, a reminder that she was at his mercy in every sense. Kagome's mind whirred with thought. Leverage...she needed leverage. Then, remembering the talk with her mother, an idea formed.
"But I am." she countered with confidence. "You love me, don't you?"
At her question, Sesshomaru closed the distance between them, his countenance turning solemn. Considering that she was confined within the coils of his fur, Kagome felt utterly trapped. "Tread lightly miko." he advised with his silken tone low and grave. "You know nothing of what you speak of." By his proximity alone, Kagome found herself pinned by the heaviness of the moment. Despite her ignorance, Kagome sensed that something of great importance was on the line and should she disregard his warning, she would inflict irreversible damage through her carelessness.
"All I'm saying is that whatever's going on involves me too." she amended, her tone matching the seriousness of his. "It's not fair for you to keep this big secret from me like it's none of my business. You made it my business the moment I got back. I get it, you made a mistake, but take some responsibility for it."
Hearing her out, Sesshomaru gave a soft nod of acknowledgement. "Answer my question." he advised. "What are the events that led to the end of the samurai class during the Meiji era?"
"Is that really important?" she questioned with a pout. School was currently the last thing on her mind.
"Answer me Kagome." he encouraged, his tone leaving no room for argument. It wasn't his domineering behavior that gave her pause, rather it was the fact that he used her name. Kagome could count on one hand the times he'd called her by her name and considering the ease in which he spoke it, it was something he was well acquainted with doing.
With a sigh, Kagome thought hard on his question. At her struggling silence, Sesshomaru sniffed with mild impatience. "You don't know do you?"
"Well, travelling back and forth to the Feudal Era takes a toll on schoolwork." she informed with an offended huff. "It was a lot of work."
"Still, you have a test this upcoming week on that very subject and you are without an answer."
Beneath his enveloping fur, Kagome managed to cross her arms and dig her heels into the ground. "I didn't come here for a history lesson." she dismissed. "I wanted to know what happened with my friends, between us– why you...did that."
"Kagome," he began, her name moving from his lips like warmed honey poured into a soothing cup of chamomile tea. "–you contradict yourself." he observed gently, his expression softening as he regarded her with a tenderness akin to the warmth she found in his brother. "Between you and I, there is only history; you are simply unaware of the past that will one day become your future."
Kagome's throat went dry at his words and at the sultry gleam shadowing his golden eyes. Before she could assess his countenance further, his pelt dropped from her and Sesshomaru turned to walk away but not before adding, "Pass your upcoming test and I will indulge you in a lesson of what was and what will be." he offered smoothly.
"I–you–hey!" she stammered, not liking his proposal in the least bit. "You can't just decide that!"
Rather than ignore her, Sesshomaru inclined his cheek in her direction to eye her with a sidelong glance. "Yes Kagome. I believe I can." he answered with smug amusement.
A hot retort burned her tongue but Sesshomaru didn't allow her the time to speak it. In a whip of wind he launched into the air, flying to a place unknown. Shaking, Kagome sank down to her knees. Questions haunted her and having no answers herself, Kagome knew exactly where to turn.