Inu Yasha: Kenjiro Vs. Sesshomaru
By -- Ravyn Knyght
As morning broke, Inu Yasha woke to the feeling of the warmth of the sun as he stretched and look down over the group below him. Jakotsu who was playing with his ears awakened Kenjiro. 'Now he knows why I sleep up here!' he laughed to himself as he watched Kenjiro try to deal with Jakotsu politely as possible. He then looked to the monk and demon slayer who was also waking up, Inu Yasha counted backwards from three then heard the familiar sound of Sango's hand across Miroku's face. 'One of these days his head will be completely turned around.' He thought as he shook his head. Then he glanced over at Kagome who was sleeping with Shippo snuggled into her and several opened textbooks surrounding them both. 'Hmph! I can't believe we'll just be sitting around for two weeks at that old hag's village!' he grumbled to himself then leapt down from the tree. He knelt down in front of her and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. 'Was she up all night again?' he wondered then started to prod her. "Hey! Aren't you awake yet?" he complained trying to wake her. "Uh, Inu Yasha…" Miroku called softly, shaking his head trying to warn his friend that he shouldn't wake her. "What? She told me too! She wanted an early start today!" he angrily shot back and returned to his previous task this time getting fed up and started shaking her. Kagome's blood shot eyes flew open and burned through his amber eyes.
"SI---!"
She started to utter the hanyou's least favorite word causing him to whimper and back away quickly fearing what was about to happen. She stopped herself when she saw him cringing while covering his ears, happy she got the results she wanted, she slowly got up so she wouldn't wake the still sleeping kitsune.
While the others ate breakfast and talked about their plans during Kagome's absence, Kagome went off by herself with a stack of textbooks to study in peace under a tree. "You got off lucky, Inu Yasha. Kagome only had a few hours of sleep last night." Shippo warned only to get a threatening look that made the young fox demon hide behind Sango. "Are these exam things really that important in her time?" Jakotsu asked still not understanding fully why Kagome was obsessing over them so much. "Education must be a highly valued thing in her era." Miroku speculated about the world Kagome came from. Inu Yasha looked over to see she still had her head down, concentrating on the pages. "She won't learn much if she starves to death." He grumbled as he grabbed a couple of apples and took them over to her.
"Eat somethin' already would ya?" he scolded but got no response. 'Is she ignoring me?' he pondered as he looked down at her then tossed one of the apples to her. Not seeing it coming, the apple conked her on the head and startled her awake. "Huh? OW!" she cried as she snapped up and hit the back of her head off of the tree trunk. "Well that was a stupid thing to do!" Inu Yasha commented as he watched her roll around on the ground while holding her head. "You jerk! What did you do that for?" she moaned in pain. "ME?" Inu Yasha screamed refusing to take the blame for what she did to herself. "Yes you!" she yelled back getting to her feet, her head throbbing from lack of sleep and striking the tree. "Well damn me all to hell for being concerned about your well being!" Inu Yasha griped, "If you want to stay up all night and starve yourself then fine! Go ahead! Just don't expect me to worry about you anymore!" he shouted and stormed off back to the others. Kagome sat back down and picked her book up while giving an irritated growl then looked at the apple that was next to her then thought about what Inu Yasha had said. She picked up the apple and started to eat it. 'I suppose he meant well.'
By mid day they had reached the bone eaters well and everyone but Inu Yasha was wishing her luck on her upcoming tests. While the others gathered around Kagome who was making a list of things she needed to bring back to add their own suggestions, Kenjiro sought out the pouting Inu Yasha who was sitting nearby. "You should say something to her before she goes back." He pointed out recalling that Kagome told him specifically not to bother her until she came back. Inu Yasha glanced over to her and thought about it for a few seconds. "No way! Did you see how she treated me this morning?" he snapped as his narrowed into a cold glare. "I'm sure she didn't mean it. At least she didn't use that incantation on you." Kenjiro then pointed out, Inu Yasha looked thoughtful as he mulled it over in his mind before answering, "No." Miroku then came over and grabbed him by the collar and dragged him over. "Just be forceful with him Kenjiro, it's the only thing he understands." The monk instructed the newest member of the group.
Kenjiro followed as Miroku pulled a protesting hanyou along. "If you think we are putting up with you in this kind of mood for two weeks then you are sadly mistaken." Miroku warned as they rejoined the others. "Now apologize for your behavior Inu Yasha and wish her a safe journey…" he demanded, Inu Yasha just folded his arms and grunted. Kagome looked at him for a moment then sighed, "That's okay. I know you were only trying to help in your own weird way." 'Huh? Was that an apology?' Inu Yasha looked slightly shocked, staring wide-eyed at her. 'She still looks tired.' he noticed how heavy her eyes were. "You know he won't say anything nice with all of us here." Shippo piped up and was butted with the end of Miroku's staff. "Well I have to get going." Kagome said getting up and reached for her backpack. "I'll carry it." Inu Yasha grumbled as he slung the heavy pack over his shoulder as they headed off to the well.
"Thanks for the apple this morning." Kagome smiled expressing her thanks for his thoughtful action. Inu Yasha just turned his nose up and grunted "Whatever.", Whatever.". He glanced at her when she repeated his answer at the same time he did. "Well I'll see you in two weeks Inu Yasha!" she smiled, as she got ready to go down the well. "Just don't stay up all night studying anymore." he warned. "Not that you'd care of course." she giggled as she jumped into the well and vanished in a blue light. 'Two weeks.' Inu Yasha groaned to himself as he stared down the well after her.
Several days later…
"Kagome!" her friends squealed seeing their friend walk through the classroom door. "Hey guys what's up?" she smiled cheerfully joining them in their conversation. "How are you feeling?" one of them asked and Kagome wondered what disease her grand father inflicted on her this time. "Uh…fine! Never felt better!" she replied with a fake smile. "You look great for someone who just had a bout with Lupis!" another exclaimed. "Uh…yeah how about that!" she nervously laughed as the bell rang and everyone took their seats.
Back in the feudal era…
"Must ye sit there gawking at me." Kaede sighed as she went about restocking her cupboards with some remedies Kenjiro helped her prepare. "Well if I had something to do then I'd be doing it." Inu Yasha replied, sounding bored. "There is plenty to do around here if one had the inclination to work." she told the lazy hanyou. "Even Jakotsu has busied herself as of late helping some of the men clear trees for more farmland." she noted hoping Inu Yasha would get the hint to go somewhere and be useful to someone. Then a thought had occurred to her on how to get rid of him for a while. "Seeing as Sango is still training some of the villagers to fend against bandits and demons someone is needed to escort some villagers to a port town a few days from here." Kaede mentioned. "In other words you want me to baby sit a bunch of humans." Inu Yasha griped. "There is no one else to do this and would do you some good to get out instead of mope about here all day." she pointed out, Inu Yasha just grunted and folded his arms. "Fine." he reluctantly agreed. "I will let the villagers know immediately." Kaede informed and headed out.
"So how long will he be gone?" Miroku asked. "Eight days if all goes well. Three to arrive, two days for the villagers to sell their goods at market and three to return." Kaede counted. "Eight whole days without Inu Yasha. It's too good to be true!" Shippo squealed happily as he fell back and relaxed. "It will do him some good and take his mind off of Kagome." Sango said knowing Inu Yasha didn't like to be separated from her for too long. "I should have gone with him." Jakotsu sulked as she picked at her food. "Well let's enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts." Miroku put to the group. "Inu Yasha is that much of a burden to you all?" Kenjiro asked, catching them off guard. "It's not that he's a burden, more like he's too much for us to keep up with at times." Sango explained referring to Inu Yasha's superior abilities. "This break gives us a chance to rest up." she added while she gave some fish to Kirara. "I suppose you have a point." Kenjiro concluded thinking about his own stamina.
The next day the group went about helping around the village. Miroku saw to the spiritual needs of the villagers under the watchful eye of Sango while Jakotsu took over for her in training the men in the village. Shippo and Kenjiro assisted in tending to the medical needs of the villagers with Kaede. "Oh you are much nicer than that other demon!" an elderly woman stated as Kenjiro assisted with her sick grandson. "So I have been told." Kenjiro smiled as he finished treating the little boy. Just as he was about to leave he caught a familiar scent. 'I suppose it was inevitable.' he sighed and followed the scent to the outskirts of the village.
"Kenjiro!" Shippo called as he ran up to him. "Where are you going? There are still people that need to be taken care of." Shippo reminded. He turned and knelt down to the little fox child and patted him on the head. "I just have to go check this one thing out and I will be right back." he assured and continued on. Shippo just shrugged and headed off to see if Kaede needed help with anything else.
Upon entering a clearing in the forest, Kenjiro found himself standing before Sesshomaru. Sizing up the stranger before him and eyeing the sword he carried, Sesshomaru drew his Tokijin sword and without a word lunged at Kenjiro. Drawing Tetsusaiga, Kenjiro fended off the attack and countered with his own which was easily knocked away. "Now that the introductions are over with, shall we?" Kenjiro spoke coldly as he prepared for a long fight. 'Hm. So there are two Tetsusaigas after all.' Sesshomaru's speculations were now founded as the two clashed swords again and exchanged looks of cold determination.
"Shippo, I thought you said Kenjiro would be back within a few minutes?" Sango asked as she looked up at the sun, noting three hours had passed. "Where'd he get off to anyway?" Jakotsu wondered as she sharpened her Jakotsuko. "I don't know where he went exactly but he said he'd be back in a few minutes." Shippo restated but wondered himself what might have happened. "This would be a good time for Inu Yasha's nose." Miroku commented. "Kirara's is just as good!" Sango spoke up as did the demon cat as it transformed. "Let's show them Kirara!" Sango excitedly cheered as she mounted the cat and the pair took off. "All this fuss over nothing. Oh well." Jakotsu shrugged as she followed along.
'Damn that old hag!' Inu Yasha cursed as he pulled the wagon along. "Hey! Hurry up back there!" one of the village women shouted seeing Inu Yasha lagging behind. He glared at the woman and muttered a few more swear words under his breath.
"SO RYUU HA!"
"KAZE NO KIZU!"
As the two fought, Sesshomaru was inwardly surprised that this stranger could last so long against him. 'He obviously is not of Inu Yasha's blood. He's far too calm and relaxed. But his scent is of my own and Inu Yasha's. Father had no other children. Both he and his sister prove the contrary though.' he pondered as the two backed off momentarily, considering their next move then charged one another again.
"SO RYUU HA!"
"KAZE NO KIZU!"
The collision of the two swords' attacks quickly let Sango know where Kenjiro was as she entered the clearing to find Sesshomaru and Kenjiro fighting. "Hey! Now that's what I call entertainment!" Jakotsu said as she watched the battle with excitement. "Kick ass Kenjiro!" she hollered as Kenjiro fended off yet another attack. "Have they been fighting the entire time?" Miroku astounded at the endurance of the two. "Why are they fighting though, I thought Sesshomaru was Kenjiro's father?" Shippo's words stopped Sesshomaru's advance. "You weren't supposed to say that!" Miroku quickly scolded, hitting Shippo over the head. Seshomaru quickly moved to grab the fox demon but was cut off by Kenjiro. "I have sired no children." Sesshomaru declared, sheathing his sword. "Not as of yet." Kenjiro informed. "You're lying. You and this sister of yours are mere half breeds. I would not lower myself to taking a human as a mate." Sesshomaru uttered with a slight look of disgust on his face. "I expected as much of a response from you." Kenjiro glared. "Do you guys get the feeling these two don't get along?" Jakotsu whispered as the tension between the two continued to build.
