How to save a life Chapter 6: Monumentum, an inuyasha fanfic

Hey there. I know, I haven't updated in a while. Heh, okay, I guess it's been more than a while.

School finished.  It's a relief being able to do nothing for endless hours on end. Bwahaha and here we go! With summer school.

Rest assured, this is still SessxKag. What's love without competition for it? Just bear with me for the time.

Previous chapter

"To become powerful, one must have strong basic skills," He began, "This means increasing your endurance, reflexes, and speed. Because you are a miko, brute strength will not play such a large part. However, mental strength is the most important for you. You must learn to focus on the objective at hand, which is to purify." Choutaro walked towards Kagome until he was within an arm's reach from her, "You must learn to control your powers." Then, he entwined Kagome's hand with his, feeling her delicate fingers; he smirked and said, "Purify me."

Dolens monumentum

Sesshoumaru paused before continuing, "Send out the invitations."

"Yes, my lord."

Kagome involuntarily shrunk away from his touch. She could feel the warmth of his body. It was something that she hadn't felt in ages; the warmth of a man's body. She couldn't help but feel an unfamiliar emotion; it felt almost as if she was betraying Inuyasha. This is wrong. Inuyasha just died and now I'm feeling glad that someone else is holding me? Trying to muster courage, she slowly raised her head to look Choutaro in the eyes. What she saw, was something that she longed for, the tender eyes of a lover. Her throat felt dry, and the words, 'Okay', barely came out as a whisper.

She slowly put her hand on his chest. She was startled when she felt a shiver coming from his body. She slowly summoned her strength, feeling that same rush to her fingers, she released it. It came like nothing else but as a blinding flash, lasting only seconds, before disappearing as abruptly as it arrived.

Kagome had her eyes shut. She opened them slowly, still seeing blue spots in her vision. Without a breath, she rushed to Choutaro's body, burnt black from her purifying powers. "Choutaro!" Kagome desperately tried to shake him awake. But his body lay still on the cold wooden floors of the dojo. She felt the tears threatening to come out.

Footsteps of guards could be heard, running to her. The first guard, a snake youkai, that arrived seemed to be in shock, "W-What happened?! What did you do to General Choutaro?!" Soon after realization sat in, the guard stalked over to Kagome. "You bitch. Tell me how this happened," he growled before slapping Kagome. "You'll be punished." He quickly barked orders for the other guards to tend to Choutaro, "Send that little bitch to Sesshoumaru-sama."

Kagome slowly followed the other guard out of the dojo, still feeling the stinging pain in her cheek. Why am I so useless? I hurt the only person in this castle that has been nice to me. Her train of thought was interrupted by the guard's knocking on Sesshoumaru's door. After hearing the words, 'Come in', the guard opened the doors and shoved Kagome.

The room was not lit. It was almost in pitch black if not for the moonlight that shone in from the window. Kagome tried to make out Sesshoumaru in the dark, but to no avail.

"Move," He stated simply, "into the moonlight."

Kagome dragged her body into that small pitch of light. Under the moon, she felt comforted. She gazed into the half crescent moon, wondering why she hadn't noticed its beauty earlier.

"Do not speak," Sesshoumaru started, "Very rarely has anyone injured one of my Generals. But for a human, a woman nevertheless, like you to even glaze him. Choutaro is quite enigmatic, isn't he?"

Kagome couldn't help but utter a sob. She wasn't sure if that was a compliment but it only reminded her of the kindness Choutaro showed her.

Sesshoumaru paused before taking a step towards Kagome. He was now close enough to the light that she could see him. He was wearing his night robe, a yukata, with white Adonis flowers stitched in. The flowers seemed to compliment his hair. But it was his golden eyes, eyes that seemed almost mesmerizing, that pierced her heart. She felt he could see through every inch of her. She felt as if she had revealed her most inner secrets to him, but she hadn't. It was the piercing stare of golden eyes that made her feel so vulnerable.

"Explain why you were in the dojo with my general," Sesshoumaru stated, keeping an almost absolute calm facade. Kagome tried to read his expression, but she couldn't find an ounce of anger or derailment for his injured general.

"I..." Kagome held her head high, trying to keep that piercing gaze. "He was training me." She said, her voice no longer stuttering. "He told me to purify him! I wasn't really...sure if I should…" Kagome trailed off.

"-and you did. But he did not expect you to be as powerful as you are," Sesshoumaru finished off.

"He's okay…right?" She whispered, more for herself to hear, trying to bring herself some reassurance.

"Choutaro is injured, but he is fine," came the apt reply, "However, I will not permit you to meet him."

"Why?!" Kagome started, fire instantly igniting in her eyes, "It was my fault that he was injured! I want to see him!"

"This is precisely why," Sesshoumaru answered, "you must know your place as a servant. There are limits, boundaries, set between generals and servants." He paused. "In addition, from my judgement, it appears that you seem to be stronger than originally thought. Therefore, I shall oversee your training."

"But-" Kagome attempted to protest, but was silenced by a glare. She wanted to protest but she knew that if something like this happened again, Choutaro might not survive it. It's probably for the better.

Kagome was snapped out of her thoughts when Sesshoumaru began to speak again, "Of course, there will be a punishment." Sesshoumaru smirked, putting much emphasis on the word 'punishment', "It would be suspicious if a servant were not punished for this."

Kagome had no energy left to argue, but she knew that Sesshoumaru's reasoning was perfectly logical. But that's all it was, logical. At times, she wondered if reason was his train way of thought.

"What's my punishment, my dear lord?" Kagome pounded angrily, trying to keep herself from giving that perfectly chiselled face a slap. That jerk! He's taking way too much pleasure in this.

"You have to relocate the excrement left over by Ah-Un from his stall to the area designated." said Sesshoumaru simply.

There was a long pregnant pause, before realization hit Kagome. "Wait, what?! I have to shovel poo?!" All Kagome received in response was a silent nod, but she was too exhausted to fight it. She was too tired, from the burden of hurting Choutaro and the burden of being helpless as Inuyasha died. She was too exhausted to realize that one could collapse under such burden, but there were no time outs in life, no breaks for her to catch her breath. If she stopped to rest, the world would keep moving on, leaving her behind with nothing but shattered memories, broken dreams, and nights with teardrops on her pillows.

"That's all for now, leave." Sesshoumaru ordered before turning his attention back to the bright moon.

Kagome quietly walked out, before taking one last glance behind her. He looks so much like Inuyasha, so much at peace. She couldn't help but remember the times when her and Inuyasha would sit on the cool

summer grass and gaze at that same bright moon that Sesshoumaru was now looking at. It made her heart ache as she remembered those happy times.

Kagome inched slowly towards her room, her steps once again feeling as heavy as the burden she was carrying on her shoulders. She felt hot and sweaty, trying to gasp for air. Why can't I see anything? She tried to steady herself against the wall but, her vision was too blurry. "Chou...taro," were her last words as she collapsed on the wooden floors.

Sesshoumaru heard the door close as Kagome left. His eyes were fixated on the shining moon but all his other senses were directed towards where Kagome had stood.

That's it for now folks. Sorry for the long delay. It's been busy. But I will persevere. 

Because...

'For me, givin' up is way harder than tryin'" – Kanye