Running Up That Hill
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 10: Passive Aggressive
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha, or to anything by Placebo or Kate Bush.
A note: People have been a bit spazzed by how I've been portraying Sango. She -is- sort of a kick me puppy, I won't deny that. But (canon wise) she's also been one of the characters most susceptible to doing really stupid shite because it's difficult for her to think past her emotions. I promise she doesn't -stay- a kick me puppy...But the end of that is kind of a ways off and plays into the second arc of the story. (Oh, that sounded pretentious. Arc. Pfft.)
Secondly, the story itself has been fully written, it just needs edited. Hopefully that should mean more regular updates (a lot of the sporadic updating has been because I've been focusing on finishing it). So ta-da. And hopefully the edits will be better. This chapter marks being a quarter of the way through the story itself. Whoo!
Despite all appearances otherwise, Sesshoumaru was focusing on the onna's heartbeat and breathing patterns. When morning night shifted into false dawn, the time when all the world seemed washed in blue, he first heard her heartbeat speed up just a fraction, and then her breathing shifted, and a small groan escaped as she began moving, rustling the blankets around her. He took some of the water, snow that had been melted and set from the fire to cool once more, over to her in a small stone bowl Totosai had carved out before leaving.
"Where am I?" She asked groggily, looking at the cave around her, then staring up at him blankly.
"A cave. Yesterday Magatsuhi put a seal on your power, and you passed out," Sesshoumaru informed her blandly as he handed her the bowl, only to jerk it back when she almost dropped it on herself, eyes wide and hands beginning to shake violently.
"He did what?" She demanded, eyes losing any trace of sleep and focusing on him with a single minded intensity that had before formerly been reserved for opponents in battle.
"Your powers as a miko have been sealed," He repeated.
Several minutes passed as she searched his face for the truth, hoping that perhaps he had taken to lying. Her obvious distrust of his word stung, for he prided himself on being honest in his dealings with others, if not forthcoming.
"So I'm useless," She whispered. He could smell the tears even as he heard the strange wobble of her tone.
"You weep too often. It is easily remedied," He informed, wondering for the umpteenth time why he was being nice to someone that had been an almost constant thorn in his side. When her eyes, shining with unshed tears and a seed of hope, swung back up to meet his, as if he could solve the problem then and there, he held up one hand in a gesture to keep her from speaking.
"This Sesshoumaru will kill Magatushi," He informed.
"But, he's a spirit from the jewel," Kagome gasped breathlessly, face falling as if his plan was not only unacceptable, but thoroughly disappointing as well. "Kill him, that's the plan?" The incredulity in her tone bothered him more than he cared to admit.
"You predicted that Tenseiga could defeat him, and you were half correct. But this Sesshoumaru's new sword is the other half of the solution."
"No protocol, not now, just speak plainly," Kagome groaned, trying to figure out where he was going with everything. Given the situation, he allowed her the concession, although why protocol would bother her at such a time was a mystery to him.
"I have been informed by Totosai that anything the Bakusaiga touches will die. It is an extension of my will and power."
"So it's your fang?" She asked, confusion evident.
"No, it was supposedly hidden within this-within me. I was told I released it."
"So, it's just yours, not a memento or something left by your father?"
"Correct."
"And it shaped itself completely out of your power and will?"
"That is also correct."
"Does this mean you've surpassed your father? I mean, his swords were forged from his fangs, you just sort of, well, gave birth to one, I guess," She replied, astonishment quickly outstripping confusion for dominance in her gaze.
"Totosai said as much," Kouga cut in, effectively breaking the illusion that it was just the two of them in the cave. Despite himself, Sesshoumaru felt a little irked. The miko's power had grown in leaps and bounds, and Sesshoumaru had allowed himself to feel proud that he had accomplished such a feat and was able to share it with one who would, in a limited way, understand. The wolf's interruption however, destroyed any feeling of a confidence between himself and the miko, and he handed the bowl to the woman and moved back, expression once more indifferent.
"That's pretty amazing. Congratulations, Sesshoumaru," Kagome murmured before tilting the bowl and sipping the cool water. The moment it passed her lips, she groaned and darted from the pile of blankets encircled by Ah Un and dashed for the mouth of the cave, stumbling as she untangled herself. Both youkai watched as she ran, Kouga beginning to go after her only to stop when the retching sounds reached the both of them.
"Totosai said she might get sick," He sighed, then flinched as a particularly vicious gasp echoed back to them.
"Prepare more water and food. She will need it. This Sesshoumaru wants to find the spirit and destroy it," He commanded, his thoughts already on the path they would take. The spirit's scent still hung in the air, faint, more faint than he would have liked. But he was determined to destroy it.
"We're heading for the village," Kagome murmured, eyes on the horizon three days later. They had been making good time, amazingly good time, but at the expense of sleep and proper food. What little had been eaten had been provided by the bandit camps at night, and even Ah Un was beginning to show signs of wear. "We should stop for rest," She added, although the idea of being anywhere near the village made her feel physically ill.
"Village?" Kouga ventured, staring at the miko in askance.
"It's where the well is, and Kaede's village. It's next to Inu Yasha's forest," She finished quietly, trying not to choke on the name. "Magatsuhi said he'd always been with me, do you think he can travel through the well?" Kagome asked, curiosity shifting to panic.
"No. Your world would be much harder to conquer and control. He would stay here, where he already has a foothold in Naraku," Sesshoumaru replied after several minutes.
"You think so?" She breathed hopefully, painfully aware that the daiyoukai never said anything just to comfort, and he never lied, but still craving the reinforcement.
"It is not logical," He answered. "And we will stop in the village for the night and allow Ah Un to rest," He added. Kagome nodded, nonplussed despite knowing that the dragon needed the downtime, not to mention Kouga and herself as well.
Dusk faded into darkness, and she was sure it was past midnight when they finally reached the village. She noticed villagers peeking out of their huts, only to be cheered as they fully emerged, greeted by smiles. Wary glances were cast at the daiyoukai and the ookami, but after Kagome explained the shared blood of the half brother's, and Kouga's position in their group, they too were welcomed warmly, much to both youkai's surprise and consternation.
"Kagome?" A voice asked, coming up behind her. She turned, eyes widening in shock and confusion before stumbling over the name.
"Miroku, what are you doing here?" She demanded, noting that while he looked better, he did not yet look well. His cheeks still seemed hollow, his skin stretched too tightly over bone. He was leaning heavily on his staff as he moved toward her, his eyes the only thing that had returned to normal. She could see the rapid fire thoughts racing behind them, and worry lined his brow.
"Sango brought us here," He replied.
"Us?" Kagome asked, confused.
"Shippou and myself, she said that Kaede-" But the monk was stopped mid sentence by the angry miko stalking away, toward the hut the village priestess shared with the group when they stopped to rest. Uncaring if she tore the pelts hanging in the door down as she pushed them aside roughly, glaring at the taijiya staring dully into the fire.
"You selfish, cruel, thoughtless, completely callous monster!" She shouted, fury washing through her and spiking her temper. "How do you do it? Do you just not care about anyone but yourself? Does it matter to you that you put Miroku in danger, or that he could have had better care at the shiro?" By now the slayer was standing, and opened her mouth to begin shouting at the miko, but Kagome plowed on ahead, stopping any response.
"You know what, you don't care about anyone but yourself. You're acting like a petty little girl who can't control her temper. Well fine, if you want to hurt yourself and be an idiot, go ahead. But you dragged my son into danger, away from the safety of the shiro and from his friends. You had no right to bring him here, no right to make any decision regarding him," Kagome finished, her voice carrying from the hut into the night.
"If you want to battle Naraku all by yourself, go ahead and die and leave Miroku alone. Leave Kohaku without a sister, if he manages to survive. Go ahead and keep blaming everybody for things they didn't do and they can't help. Someday, if you live long enough to see it, you'll end up as bitter and twisted as Naraku!" She finished, every angry thought she'd had spilling out like poison before she could stop them. She listened to herself, almost horrified but unable to close her mouth, the fury and anger forcing out the darkness present in the thoughts of the woman that had once been her best friend.
"Take it back," Sango snapped, astonishment giving way to anger, she rushed forward, pushing Kagome. The miko stumbled back, outside of the hut and into the cold and snow, where a crowd had gathered to watch. "Take it back! I'm not like him!" Sango howled as she pushed Kagome again. Kagome shook her head, still riding the cresting waves of anger.
"You keep putting people in danger because you're angry, you're trying to hurt me because you think I did something wrong, and you're using people I care about to do it. That's exactly what Naraku does!" She accused.
She saw the fist coming this time, and angry and determined as she was, she called on every technique she'd been taught by Sesshoumaru, praying for the speed she'd earned through bitter training, and caught the taijiya's fist and used the momentum of her punch and swung her around. When she released the slayer's hand, Sango went stumbling back into the snow, eyes filled with rage.
"You're just like them! You keep talking about not letting yourself care. That's what separates us from them!" Sango shouted as she stood and charged again. Waiting, Kagome hunched herself just as the approaching body was about to slam into her, and brought her fist up into Sango's stomach.
Sango crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath as Kagome stood over her, looking down sadly.
"I don't want to fight Sango. Naraku's always trying to separate us, and we're doing it for him," Kagome sighed, kneeling down into the snow. "Why do you hate me so much?"
"You always act like you know best, like you have the answers. You're trying to keep me from my brother," Kagome whispered brokenly, the humiliation of being defeated by a girl she had never even considered strong sapping her will to fight.
"I'm not trying to keep you from Kohaku. I want this to be done as quickly as possible, and Miroku needed someone to be with him, and the natural choice was you. Just because it seemed like the best option doesn't mean I thought it was the right one," Kagome sighed, pulling the taijiya up and into her lap,ignoring the snow beginning to seep through her clothing. "But Sango, you had to know taking Shippou from the shiro was wrong. How could you have put him in danger like that? He was finally safe, and he had friends his own age," Kagome admonished, her voice neutral of the rage that thought still evoked.
"Ever since we went to Sesshoumaru, you've changed," Sango began, an accusation Kagome knew was coming.
"I changed before that. Naraku, Inu Yasha, the bandits. Neither of us talked about anything when we went to find Shippou and ask for Sesshoumaru's help. I don't think we could talk, not really. And you've begun to work through it. Someday I'll be myself again, but I can't yet, I'm sorry," Kagome whispered into her friend's hair.
"It wasn't fair of me to demand that you keep acting happy go lucky, like you used to. Or to say you don't care," Sango admitted.
"No, it wasn't," Kagome answered, refusing to lie and give false forgiveness. "I care. I'm doing all of this because I care. Please try to understand from now on," Kagome commanded more than asked. Sango nodded, little sobs jerking her form.
Kagome looked up and saw the crowd had dispersed, the only people present were the two youkai that stood together, and Kaede and Miroku, who looked pleased at the resolution.
"Now that that's solved, maybe you'd like to come in from the cold," The old miko suggested pragmatically, her tone dismissing everything that had happened as she walked back into her hut. Ah Un stationed himself beside the hut, laying down in the snow. Kagome watched Sesshoumaru remove the bridle set to leave the beasts mouths free, and she was surprised to see the dragon breath fire onto it's hide after the daiyoukai removed the saddle.
"It is how he will keep warm," Sesshoumaru intoned as he walked into the humble hut, eyes curiously blank. Kagome followed, one last pitying glance directed at the dragon before she let the pelts fall behind her.
"Now that you two have vented your spleens, perhaps you could tell us what you're doing this far west?" Miroku asked, moving closer to the fire. Kaede was boiling water for tea, going to her stores and pulling different herbs from their little pouches and mixing them together.
"We met up with the youkai that's been killing the bandits and attacking randomly. He calls himself Magatsuhi, the dark spirit of the jewel," Kagome said quietly.
"I thought you said going after him wasn't priority," Sango asked the daiyoukai, barely looking at him.
"He sealed the miko's powers. We must kill him to break the seal," Sesshoumaru answered, watching them carefully beneath half lidded eyes.
"Magatsuhi, the dark spirit of the jewel. It makes sense, I suppose, the jewel is composed of light and dark. My grandfather said the jewel held both Magatushi and Naohi. Naohi is balance and purity. Magatushi is the corrupt," Miroku offered.
"So why are you here?" Sango demanded, ignoring the revelation.
"He's close, perhaps within a day's journey," Sesshoumaru responded, still keeping his eyes glued to the taijiya, as if awaiting another outburst.
"And what about the jewel, and Kohaku's shard?" She demanded, this time looking to Kagome. "Can you even feel them anymore?"
Just when Sesshoumaru was about to remind the taijiya of the consequences of yelling at the miko, he was interrupted.
"I can still feel the jewel, and even the shard. I don't understand, why can I do that, but not be able to do anything else?" She asked, brow wrinkled in confusion.
"You were born with the jewel in you, correct?" Sesshoumaru asked. When Kagome nodded, he continued. "Then perhaps it is a bond, as with my sword. It is of me, and I know it's location at all times."
"That makes sense," Miroku nodded, accepting a cup of tea gratefully. Sango took her own and blew on it while Kagome passed two cups to the youkai sitting silently. She thanked Kaede when she accepted her own cup and sipped daintily, testing the temperature.
Sesshoumaru, content that Kouga was watching the taijiya as avidly as he had been, allowed himself to follow Kagome's gaze. The blue orbs rested on the small lump still asleep, swathed in enough blankets to look as if he had created a den around himself. Quietly he wondered at the pup, having to live with such chaos on a constant basis.
"He must be returned to the shiro," Sesshoumaru said aloud, more to himself than anyone else.
"If you're suggesting I take him back, you can go to hell," Sango muttered quietly in response. Her temper might have cooled toward the miko, but it seemed her hatred of him was obviously alive and well.
"Old woman," Sesshoumaru rumbled, his eyes narrowing as they rested on Sango. "You will take the priest and the kit to the shiro. It is not far, and save Magatsuhi, there should be no trouble. They will recognize the kit there."
"I appreciate the offer Sesshoumaru-sama, but I cannot leave behind my own charges in such a difficult time. I'm sure you understand," She added gently, bowing her head slightly.
"And if I told you, you'd just leave them here and go on to fight Naraku on your own," Sesshoumaru said, finally addressing Sango, who looked ready to explode into another rage.
"Sesshoumaru, don't antagonize her. I'm sure she's sorry for dragging Shippou so close to the battle," Kagome said, not looking at the taijiya. Her words had not been meant spitefully, but they left little room for interpretation. "We'll have to figure out another way to get them to the shiro."
"I'm not going anywhere," Miroku cut in, his tone brooking no argument. "Shippou is a child, and as such he may be relegated to the shiro. I have a stake in this. I will not have my choice taken from me."
"We need someone to take Shippou back-" Kagome cut in.
"He may stay with me," Kaede interrupted. "He will be safe here, the villagers know and love him. I am sure he will be fine until you come back," She said gently, acknowledging the fear in Kagome's eyes.
After several minutes she hung her head and her shoulders slumped in defeat as she nodded.
Sesshoumaru noted with no small satisfaction that the slayer looked distinctly uncomfortable, especially under the monk's hard gaze and Kouga's glare.
"We rest then, and tomorrow find the spirit," Sesshoumaru commanded, setting his cup down and moving for the doorway. "And taijiya, you'd do well to remember that as the miko's pup, the kit is also pack, and under my protection. Should anything happen to him, you will be held responsible." With that, he left the hut to find Ah Un, who had, by some kindness of the strangers in the village, been given enough wood to keep a small fire going.
"That asshole," Sango began.
"No," Kagome said, holding up a hand to stop the other woman's tirade. "Not now, not tonight. Maybe not ever. I am part of his pack, and so is Shippou. We've covered this before. You remember Inu Yasha and what being part of his pack felt like. Sesshoumaru is acting on the same rules, the ones you never faulted Inu Yasha for. Now, I'm done with arguments and yelling for the night. Tomorrow is going to start early, and I want to rest," She finished, moving from the light of the fire and to the pallet the kitsune slept on.
Moving him gently, she shifted the blankets around enough to where he was cuddled to her stomach, curled almost like a cat. After several long minutes of tense silence, she heard someone rustling around, and felt the chill air from the door coming in before the pelts shifted back into place, blocking it. More rustling, and the clatter of he wooden cups, and everything went quiet.
'Soon this will be over, and I can figure things out with Sango,' She sighed, taking comfort in the feel of Shippou nestling in closer to her and his tiny hand moving to grab her kimono, fisting it tightly as he shifted.
It was her only comfort.
The next morning she woke to Shippou happily bouncing, the turquoise of his eyes flashing happily.
"You're here, you're here!" He squealed happily over and over as her eyes opened and tried to focus. Light filtered in from the door and she groaned, desperate to gain five more minutes of blessed sleep. Instead, the kitsune child burrowed under the covers, bringing cold hands and feet with him as he snuggled into her, desperate for affection. Kagome laughed, bringing her arms around him and shifting to her back, letting him sit on her stomach.
"You are getting way too big for this Shippou," Kagome laughed, playing at struggling to breathe. The kitsune huffed indignantly before smiling and bouncing off, zipping around the hut and talking at speeds that Kagome knew her friends in the future would envy.
"Slow down kiddo, what are you trying to tell me?" Kagome demanded.
"Sesshoumaru said I'm supposed to protect you while he and Kouga hunt! Isn't that amazing?" Shippou asked, his eyes bright as he puffed out his chest. Reminded a bit of a bullfrog, Kagome laughed and stood, shaking her head as she walked to the door and slid on her traveling boots. Easily her favorite part of her current garb, the boots themselves were much like Sesshoumaru's, only lacking the pointed toe. Much more sensible than the sandals most seemed to favor in this time.
"Your hair is a mess," Shippou commented. Kagome stuck her tongue out and went to the saddle bag that had been a backrest for her the night before. After digging out a brush and attacking the knots in her hair, she braided it and tied it off with a strip of colorful linen, choosing one that matched her son's eyes.
"Better?" She asked, twirling in front of the boy. Shippou nodded and allowed himself to be picked up and cuddled to her side before they went out into the cold morning. Snow had covered the ground with a thick blanket of white during the night, and those that were forced outside came and went quickly.
"Hey Ah Un," Shippou called to the dragon, waving. Kagome waved her free hand and smiled at the pile of wood that had accumulated near the fire the dragon was encircling with it's body. The villagers rushing through their tasks each took a moment for cheerful greetings before rushing off again, eager to get by their own fires once more.
As she moved further from the center of the village and to the outskirts, she spotted Kaede and Sesshoumaru on the hilltop. Wondering what he could be saying to the old miko of all people, she began trudging up the hill, breath coming in steaming pants as she struggled with the snow.
"Mind if we interrupt?" Kagome asked as she came near.
"Not at all child, ye are most welcome. I had expressed curiosity about Lord Sesshoumaru's arm and new sword, he was kind enough to explain it to me," The priestess said with a smile. Sesshoumaru turned slowly, his eyes distant as he took in the sight of her and Shippou.
"You forgot your jacket," He rumbled. Kagome blushed, realizing that in her haste to find him, she had in fact left without her jacket.
"I'll be fine, it's just a few minutes," She assured, waving the comment off.
"Pup, fetch your mother's jacket," Sesshoumaru said sternly. Shippou, instead of blowing off the command as he would done with Inu Yasha, beamed and jumped from Kagome's arms, scampering off through the snow, careening wildly when he tripped over some unseen obstacle. Kagome allowed herself to chuckle when he shook himself off and his own infectious laughter echoed over the hill.
"I was explaining something to Sesshoumaru, Kagome. It was not for Shippou's ears," Kaede said suddenly. Kagome turned, gaze askance.
"Is everything alright?" She asked.
"In Naraku's home, Sango was shown a vision of Sesshoumaru killing Kohaku. It is a vision she suffers in nightmares."
"But it was an illusion, she knows that," Kagome insisted.
"Aye, but it haunts her. I trust Lord Sesshoumaru's honor, and he has given his word to save the boy if possible. But Sango will not trust it. The illusion took root, and her mistrust only grows. I think perhaps that is why she has been so hostile," The miko explained, looking to the sky with a single eye, contemplating her own thoughts.
"Then there's nothing we can do but bring Kohaku back then, I guess," Kagome sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"It is as you say. Though this Sesshoumaru doubts she will ever trust, even if provided evidence contrary to her own beliefs."
Kagome stamped her foot and crossed her arms angrily, trying to blink back tears. "This is so unfair," She muttered. "We're trying to save the world and it feels like we're being punished for it."
"It was never going to be an easy path, especially not once Naraku involved himself," Kaede rebuked, turning her gaze back to the miko. "This is but another obstacle you must face. But your alpha will help see you through it."
Kaede's faith in Sesshoumaru rocked Kagome. The old woman had never had a reason to trust the daiyoukai, and yet she believed that Sesshoumaru would protect her. It was humbling, especially in light of the fact that it had taken Kagome so long to see that he was a youkai of his word, a being of honor.
"Mama, Here's your coat!" Shippou cried happily, running up the hill, trying to keep the jacket from dragging on the ground as his short legs tried to force a path into the snow. Kagome took pity on him and met him halfway down, donning the coat and tying it before picking him up again and cuddling him into her side.
"When do we head out?" She asked once she had rejoined the others, changing the topic of conversation.
"Soon. Magatsuhi has stopped, but it is still easily a day's journey to him. The taijiya and monk are gathering their own supplies." He said the word taijiya with such venom that even Kagome was startled, and Shippou seemed completely bewildered by the turn of events.
"Why's he mad at Sango?" The child questioned innocently.
"Sango is just really upset, and she's done a few things that she shouldn't have because she's not thinking straight," Kagome explained, shooting a look over the child's head that told the others to stay silent. Sesshoumaru nodded once, acknowledging the half truth, and letting it slide.
"Pup, your mother will be joining this Sesshoumaru soon. You must give your word to stay here until we come back for you," Sesshoumaru commanded gently. Kagome watched in wide eyed awe as she felt more than saw the kit nodding his head obediently. Sesshoumaru accepted the acquiescence with a nod and added, "Remember our talk."
Leaving Kagome to ponder that little mystery, he began walking away, and once again she noticed he walked on top of the snow, effectively shattering her concentration.
"We should also return to my home, there are things I would have you take as well child," Kaede reminded the miko. Kagome nodded, following the old miko obediently, walking in her tracks from before to try and avoid amassing any more snow on her wool hakama, cursing the weight of them the entire way down.
"I smell him, but I don't see him," Kouga muttered, eyes glancing over every surface, then focusing in the distance, as if his eyes would suddenly provide an answer his nose could not. Sesshoumaru nodded, only acknowledging the wolf's senses were inferior to his own.
"It is a trap," He murmured. Kagome pulled more closely to him, her arrow at the ready. Sango and Miroku watched, seated on a hovering Kirara. A laugh resounded through the ravine they found themselves in, and Sesshoumaru inwardly cursed as he realized that their positions were weak and hard to defend.
"Get on Ah Un," He commanded the woman by his side.
"But-" She started.
"Do as I say," He barked, too angry with himself for being led into the trap. The scent had been strong enough to fool him until he arrived, but it was stale. Old. They had been purposely led away. His mind worked over the intricate possibilities before he slammed a steel wall down on them, forcing himself breath and anticipate.
As Kagome was being flown into the air near Sango and Miroku, a voice laughed, a bored, mirthless laugh. Sesshoumaru's head barely moved, although his eyes shifted to the source. The blue haired youkai that had eluded them at the shiro seemed to materialize from nothingness, his form taking shape from the air itself. Sesshoumaru caught the smell of the illusion as it faded, forced himself to stomp down the anger at the fact that he had missed the illusion as well.
In the blue haired youkai's hand was a pot, the lid off. Sesshoumaru could smell the stale scent of the spirit emanating from within.
"You had a purpose?" He asked, unsheathing Bakusaiga.
"We all do, at least we're supposed to. I'm just supposed to keep you busy for Naraku. My illusions will be better this time," He sighed, as if bored with the whole situation. His apathy would have sparked a battle with the daiyoukai weeks ago, but Sesshoumaru wanted to know why Naraku was buying time.
"Is Naraku planning something?" Kagome demanded, asking his question for him.
"You know what the problem is with you lot, you talk too much. Let Byakuya solve that," He laughed, throwing out several different origami. Sesshoumaru felt the miko flying toward him, and as he was readying his whip, her arrow shot through a piece of paper that was flying at him. Despite her lack of power, the paper was torn as the arrow ripped through it.
"Do not waste your arrows," He commanded, his whip flying around them. Kagome watched as it sliced through the paper, the pieces fluttering wildly to the ground, and she was reminded of snow as she watched it land.
"You cannot get them all daiyoukai, and your friends are already lost," Byakuya taunted.
"Sesshoumaru?"
"What?"
"If we get caught in it, and destroy the anchor point like last time, I mean, do you think you can do what I did?" She asked.
"I can destroy him," He ended the statement with a snarl, the whip seeming to vanish into the sudden sea of light surrounding them. Without her own miko powers, Sesshoumaru's strength slammed into her, knocking her to her knees as his youki consumed the various papers around them, turning them to ash.
"The power seemed to bubble, straining against a boundary that she knew Sesshoumaru had erected. Once it built up, the ki itself powerful enough to cause a tempest of wind around them, he released it, the resounding explosion deafening as she took in the sight of the ripped earth round her.
"You freed the others," She said, although she could barely understand her own words. The buzzing sound that had hung below the roar of the winds refused to leave, and she smacked her hands against her ears, trying to make it go away and instead making it worse. When she finally looked to Sesshoumaru, she saw his lips moving but could hear nothing.
"What?" She asked. When his eyes darted to her, she pointed to her ears and then waved her thumb upside down and frowned. His arm shot around her waist and pulled her tight right before he took a leap into the air. When he landed, the she jerked hard enough that it felt like her ribs were broken and her lungs flattened. Squirming away, she was getting ready to yell at him when she noticed where he had landed.
Before anything could be said, Sesshoumaru was throwing himself at Byakuya, and sounds began to permeate the buzzing noise. His sword coming down and repeatedly hitting air, the mocking laughter of the blue haired youkai.
She felt a rush of wind and realized that he had taken a position behind her, holding her almost carelessly.
"You don't want to hurt you little pet, now do you?" He asked. Her hair shifted and moved as his hot breath stirred it, and she felt queasy for a moment before blinking several times at Sesshoumaru. Thankful for his lessons once again, the knife came out of her wrist sheath and she guesstimated, praying she put enough force into the blow to shatter bone or at the least distract her would be captor. As luck had it, her aim was perfect, and the knife plunged into his eye.
Throwing her away from himself, the demon put his hand to the bleeding area and pulled it away, fury washing what little color he had possessed away. Kagome watched, sickened, as he began pulling the knife out, and his eye came with it.
"Seems the bitch has claws," He snarled, his normally bored expression gone and replaced with a mask of rage, twisting his features.
Kagome ran, stumbled as she found the ledge, and praying, called Ah Un and jumped.
The edge of the ravine exploded behind her, knocking her off course and almost making her miss the saddle. She landed on her stomach, scrambling for purchase as the dragon moved down to touch the floor of the ravine.
"It seems Lady Kagome is full of surprises," Miroku commented when she finally got her seat, ironically just as Ah Un touched the floor. Kouga looked a little worse for the wear, but Sango looked stricken, as if the illusion to capture her had broken some deep conviction. Mentally groaning, Kagome prayed it wasn't something else about Sesshoumaru, or even about Kouga.
Before the dust settled, Sesshoumaru came gliding out, white clothing and hair immaculate. Petulantly, she wanted to ask him if his clothing and his hair were both self cleaning or if dirt was just too scared to get on him. When he landed, she was grateful she could hear the slight sound of his boots scraping the ground.
"Is he gone?" Kagome asked.
"Yes. It was a trap. He had part of Magatsuhi's body in the jar, and lured us here. We must hurry to Naraku's fortress."
"What about Kagome's powers?" Kouga snapped.
"Magatsuhi will be there. Naraku may think what he will, but Magatsuhi is using him," Sesshoumaru intoned, preparing his signature cloud of youki. "Have the jewels moved?" He demanded softly, eyes focused on Kagome. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind, but the moment she realized where the jewels were, the blue orbs opened as a gasp of dismay escaped.
"They're moving. Slowly, but they're moving. And Kohaku's shard, it's separate, but it's been tainted," She whispered, looking up into the daiyoukai's gold eyes. He nodded, a signal for her to take her place on the cloud. As she scrambled down, Kouga was moving to take his seat in the saddle, eyes narrowed in determination.
"So we're heading for Naraku?" He asked.
"We will find him. Is he traveling fast?" Sesshoumaru shot at Kagome as they began rising into the sky, the walls of the ravine shrinking as they flew higher and higher.
"Not fast, although not particularly slow. He's coming in this direction though," She added, casting another anxious glance up into the golden eyes that were quickly bleeding red.
"How long can the firecat hold her speed and still be useful in battle?" Sesshoumaru barked at Sango.
"She's got stamina to spare," Sango boasted.
"Point the way miko," Sesshoumaru commanded. When Kagome's finger moved up and pointed northeast, they shot forward, almost unseating Kagome. After several minutes of tense silence, Kouga began speaking, as if to himself. He was close enough to Kagome that she could hear him despite the low tone he spoke in.
"The illusion, it showed me the clans, whole and happy. Safe. I didn't think about it being illusion," He admitted, his voice harsh, as if the illusion had done more than trick him, but broken something in himself.
"Maybe it was meant to be cruel, but you don't have to take it that way," Kagome told him, eyes filled with concern. "You still have the ability to make it a reality. The tribe will still need you when this is over, but you can make the illusion into a prophecy, and heal your people," She assured. His eyes seemed to take on a bit of their former glow, and she was pleased to note that the corners of his mouth were tilting up in a ghost of a smile.
"Thanks, Kagome."
"I saw my father alive, and at my wedding," Miroku told them. His voice was almost lost in the wind as they moved forward, but Kagome was able to catch his statement. "My wind tunnel, his, it was as if they never existed. My father was able to meet Sango and bless us," He finished.
"My father met you, and our village was whole and everyone, Kohaku, my father, everyone was still alive," Sango added, sparing a glance at the monk behind her, his arms around her waist.
"But Byakuya didn't think of one thing," Kagome told them. When they looked slightly perturbed at her observation, she allowed herself a sad smile. "If not for those things, neither of you would have met."
For several minutes the monk and taijiya seemed lost in thought, her leaning further into him, and his arms squeezing her middle gently.
"Kagome is right," Miroku finally said, and nothing more. Sango nodded woodenly, looking as if her world had shifted on it's axis.
"What did you see, Kagome?" Kouga asked.
"Sesshoumaru didn't let any of the origami get close enough for them to trap us," She explained. "I was a dummy and dove for him, and he ended up protecting me as well as himself."
"What do you think you would have seen?" Kouga pressed, honestly curious and determined not to fall into the contemplative silence that had reigned over most of his trip with the miko and the daiyoukai.
"I don't know," She admitted. "Maybe me in my own time, attending high school and graduating. Or Inu Yasha alive. Who knows what he saw? I'm not sure I would have fallen for it, I know he's the guy that tried to make me watch a replay of my rape and Inu Yasha's death," She sighed. Then she glanced up at Sesshoumaru, who looked totally disinterested in the conversation.
"What do you think your illusion was supposed to be?" She asked, watching his face carefully for even a hint of reaction.
"There is nothing this Sesshoumaru wants for," He replied shortly.
"Everyone wants something," She pressed.
"For this war to be over," He admitted. "And for my people to be safe."
"See? And that's not a bad thing either, so don't act like you're less than perfect for having goals. Byakuya's illusions were flawed in different ways. I don't think he really understood people, which is kind of sad. I wonder what he dreamed of," She mused. Despite the youkai's cruelty, she thought of Kanna, and wondered if Naraku's children did feel and were trapped as surely as she was in the game he played, or if they served him happily, knowing what their actions did to others. Quickly growing too melancholy from the ideas spinning in her brain, she pulled away from those thoughts and pursued another line of thinking. She did believe that Sesshoumaru wanted the war to be over, and for his people to be safe. But everyone had a personal wish, a desire for something, anything.
She mused on different options and ideas, turning each one over in her mind over and over before discarding it. The normal things didn't seem to fit, and what he had professed to want didn't seem to apply anymore.
Could someone really have everything? The question plagued her as they ate up distance between themselves and Naraku. For a moment she was reminded of the math problems in school about two trains traveling at different speeds. Where would they meet? What would happen when they did?
Within hours, the tugging grew more and more insistent, and suddenly it stopped. Lightning seemed to strike Kagome. She fell forward, gasping.
"It's complete," She whispered, tears coming to her eyes as she contemplated the implications. "He's absorbing it. I don't know if he made a wish, I can't, but-" She was babbling, and from some distant place in her mind, she knew she was. Sesshoumaru had gone down on one knee and his gaze searched her face.
"Are you sure?"
"I can feel it, somehow Kohaku's shard was tainted, and, Naraku took it," She whispered, visibly slumping as she pressed her palms to her eyes in an attempt to stop the tears.
"Can you feel the boy?" He asked. Kagome shook her head.
"He could still be alive," Sango said desperately, eyes wide and panicked. Sesshoumaru saw the grim set of the monk's mouth and said nothing.
"We must hurry," He intoned, standing back up and pushing himself harder, determined to find Naraku before he made his wish.
Author's Notes: I know. I know. Sango fans, I'm really, really sorry. Just give it time, it gets sorted out.
Someone asked me if there will be romance. And yes, there will be, I promise. And tension. But they've got to actually care about each other first. I don't believe love is a magic pill. I don't believe it is a cure all. And I don't believe Kagome is just going to fall into his arms, or him into hers.
So much wangst in the future.
Also, I've started doing exclusives on Dokuga, such as dokuga challenges and lemons. Just go and look up The Hatter Theory. I promise I'm the same person. Dokuga also gets the uncut chapters (seeing as how there is sex(!) later in this story and others I'm working on.) Take that as a promise for romance. Viola!
If I don't post before Thanksgiving (I probably will) Happy Thanksgiving.