Passions, Chapter 11

Inuyasha warned her about this…about how Sesshomaru would try to get to her again... But he often ran off to see Kikyo, and nothing seemed to be wrong with that…He loved her, and he was willing to do anything to be with her. It was justified. She couldn't compare to Kikyo, not in his eyes. According to him, Kikyo was the better marksman, the better priestess, and was far "cuter" than she would ever be.

On the other hand, when she was with Sesshomaru, the weight of Kikyo's legacy did not crush her. She was her own person in his presence, and she felt like she meant everything to him.

He only had to look at her once, and she couldn't help blushing madly, whenever he touched her, her entire body responded, and when he kissed her, she felt like nothing else mattered so long as she was with him. She needed him, and she refused to go back to living in Kikyo's shadow.

Inuyasha couldn't tell her who she could and could not see. He despised Sesshomaru, but that didn't give a reason to dislike him as well. At least Sesshomaru was honest and direct about his feelings. She didn't have to guess whether or not he liked her.

There was nothing wrong with seeing Sesshomaru again.

Kami, she surely missed him enough. He meant so much to her, and she wouldn't sit and let Inuyasha's judgment get in the way. It wasn't fair.

Without another thought, she buried her face into his chest, "Sesshomaru…you really shouldn't be here…." She murmured, her fingers toying with the silver silk that was his hair. Now that she had him again, she doubted she'd be able to let go.

"…Why should I not be?" He asked, his voice a low resonance. He supposed her initial hesitance was understood. Now that he was uninjured, he was capable of readily doing her harm, and she had good reason to be afraid of him.

She tilted her head back to view his face, and just as she expected, those unwavering, golden orbs were focused back on her. She couldn't help smiling, "…You could get hurt."

"You fear for my safety do you? Ridiculous mortal…" Lowering his head, his lips traced a path from her jaw line, to her chin, and finally to her lips, where another lingering kiss was pressed.

"It's not ridiculous..." She murmured, pecking his lips back. Her brows knitted as she continued to stare at him, "I'm serious…

"I realize, however I am more curious of exactly how you got here…" Kagome seemingly appeared out of thin air, though he knew that it was not the case.

"Hm? Oh! Well, I told you I wasn't from around here, remember?" Once he nodded, she continued on, "The well connects my world to yours. I'm from five-hundred years into the present….as crazy as it sounds." She figured that Sesshomaru wouldn't believe her, but it was the truth.

"…Five-hundred years?" It did sound crazy, but she had no reason to lie to him. It was strange, how such a thing existed, yet only a mere mortal was capable of utilizing it. Kagome never failed to surprise him.

She broke his gaze, her eyes moving to the gift in his grasp, "Is it really for me?"

"I assume it is not to your liking…" He had been holding it for a while, and she seemed as though she didn't want to take it.

"Oh, no. It's not that! I'm grateful, really. It's not often that I get things like this…Uh…what is it?" Feeling her cheeks heat red, she reached out and hesitantly took the gift into her hands. She began to undo the lavender ribbon that held it together.

Inuyasha had never given her anything? Had Inuyasha any intention to mate Kagome? He protected her and it seemed he would die for her. Sesshomaru assumed that he loved her, though their relationship was not as it seemed. It was strained and one-sided. Kagome seemed to harbor feelings for him, while Inuyasha seemed uninterested, or only interested in the dead priestess.

He would have continued dwelling in his thoughts further, yet a high pitched sound brought him back to reality.

She didn't answer his question, no, and Kami forbid she kept her voice down.

She squealed.

She opened the gift, revealing the white and indigo kosode that bore pink butterflies splattered in various patterns over its sleeves. The accompanying yellow, ribbon obi hung loosely over her arms. "Sesshomaru, it's so pretty! I love it!" It wasn't long before she stood on her toes to kiss his magenta-striped cheek.

He was mildly confused, but it didn't cross his features. As far as he was concerned, it was mere clothing, nothing more. It held no real special value- though he believed she'd like it. He assumed Rin acted so giddy over gifts because she was a mere child, yet Kagome seemed thrilled the same. He assumed that the presents were of sentimental value to them- while they were merely tokens to him- simply keepsakes that were received on honorable terms. Mortal women were strange indeed.

"It's the right size and everything!" She continued on, a smile present on her features, but it soon began to vanish. She licked her lower lip before casting her gaze away from him, "…Oh, but Sesshomaru. I can't take this from you. It's too beautiful."

"It is yours. I suppose now you have something that fits." Not that he minded her excessively short kimono. It was different and relatively light compared the heavy layers most women adorned.

"It's. A. Skirt." She scowled, a brief frown touching her lips as she nudged him, "It does fit."

"It doesn't…" He reached down, grabbing the length of her "skirt" with a small tug. It barely covered her backside, not that he minded that either.

She beamed red, swatting at him before moving away a few paces, "It does too!" She had the mind to stick her tongue out at him, but she abruptly smiled, "Hey, Sesshomaru? After I change, what do you say to a little cloud gazing?"

Xx

"She's sleeping now…" Inuyasha muttered, stepping outside of Kaede's hut as he closed the opening strawflap behind him. Kikyo. After all of her time wandering, she ended up at the edge of the village. She was conscious, but she was weak, too weak to walk on her own. When he caught her scent, he rushed to her- knowing that it'd be some time before he saw her again.

Kikyo insisted on staying away from him, and he knew it was because of Kagome. Kikyo despised Kagome. Her time in death made her bitter, yet no one could blame her. Her life was prematurely ripped from her, and her reincarnation stole her place- stole her role as a priestess and stole her role in Inuyasha's heart.

"Did she say anything?" Kaede asked, her single eye concentrated on the conflicted hanyou.

"…Yeah." He nodded, though he kept his gaze low, his voice barely above a whisper, "She says that…the souls of the dead can no longer sustain her. She needs something else, something stronger…"

"…Inuyasha, ye can't be serious. The only thing that will sustain my sister is-"

"Kagome's soul, I know…I know, but I'd never ever do anything like that, Kaede." Keeping Kikyo meant giving Kagome up. Giving Kikyo up meant having Kagome. It was as though he was pitting lives against one another. He knew eventually that he would have to choose…but he didn't think it would occur so soon.

"…Ye might not have to, Inuyasha. Something will turn up. I gave her an elixir to cure her current ails. Perhaps it won't come down to her trying to steal Kagome's soul…" Something had to turn up, otherwise Inuyasha was going to be torn apart by this.

Xx

"I do not understand the purpose in this…"

"Sesshomaru…" Pursing her lips, Kagome glanced at him.

Sesshomaru was unsure of how Kagome convinced him to remove his armor and lie on his back for cloud gazing. He had never been one to rest unless he had to. Not to mention participating into her little game was absurd. His molten colored eyes flickered in her direction.

"There isn't a purpose in it. It's just a game…" She moved so that she could rest on top of him, folding her arms across his chest like she used to.

"…Why do you do such meaningless things? It creates a purposeless existence." Cloud gazing was not beneficial in any aspect. Lifting a hand, the back of his clawed index finger brushed over her cheek, "Is it because you are a mere human and you have not better to do?" Humans often indulged in activities for leisure. Demons that lacked pride were not so different.

"I am human. Sue me…" She grinned, leaning down to press her lips against his own. Sesshomaru didn't understand the purpose in games, but she couldn't fault him. He was always so…serious. She doubted he took the time to really enjoy anything, except for killing. Her palms moved to set on his shoulder in an effort to push herself up, but she felt him tense underneath her.

His injury.

Kagome caught his small reaction to pain, no matter how slight it was. She quickly broke the kiss, her eyes wideneding, "I'm sorry! It hasn't healed yet, has it?" That particular wound had been severe, she remembered. The bone and flesh there had been virtually destroyed, as she recalled, and Sesshomaru was moving around as if it did not exist. She had a mind to scold him.

"Kagome..." He did not bother sitting up. He merely wrapped his arms back around her, pulling her against his chest, "You worry of me. It is foolish and misplaced."

"You're still hurt…" She reminded him as her brows knitted, but she allowed herself to be pulled back against him, "It's not foolish."

"It is." The wound was grave, even for his healing factor. The bone had mended, yet not the flesh, not fully yet. Still, Kagome had no reason to worry as she did. She understood how powerful he was, but that did not stop her from attempting to care for him. That was what brought them together in the first place.

Kagome huffed, though she remained silent. There was no reasoning with him. He was too stubborn.

"That kimono…suits you well." He doubted he had seen any other human that looked as she did- possessing alabaster skin, azure doll-shaped eyes, and dark ribbons of hair that reached her lower back. She was beautiful, more so striking than any demoness by far…and she was his. In this very moment, she was his, his to have and protect. No one could take her from him.

By Kami, he always made her red when he looked at her like that. A blush spread from her cheeks until it reached the tips of her ears.

Before she knew it, he was leaning close to her, running his lips over one of her burning cheeks. "Remain here with me…"

"Sesshomaru…" She could feel her heart beginning to thump against her ribcage. She wanted to spend time with like this always- wrapped so far in his attention that the outside world no longer mattered…but she couldn't forsake her current duties. "I can't…"

"…Is it because of the half-breed?"

Kagome quickly shook her head, her hands balling into fists, "Inuyasha? No, no not Inuyasha." At least he wasn't the only reason, "I have to collect the shards of the Sacred Jewel. I'm the one that shattered it. There's also so many people that could use my help in the feudal era. I can't just abandon all of that."

Sesshomaru would never degrade himself by interfering with human affairs. If Kagome did accompany him, he'd assist in completing the Sacred Jewel, for her sake and her's alone.

"We're just from two different worlds, Sesshomaru. You wouldn't understand…" Even though she thought of Sesshomaru as kind, she knew well that only she and Rin received that treatment.

"…So long as your reasons are not merely Inuyasha." The half-breed did not care for her, as far as Sesshomaru was concerned. Kagome needed not waste time waiting for him. He was too indecisive, "Yet, what makes you believe that you will not accomplish your goals if you accompany me? I plan to destroy Naraku. We are both bound to encounter the Jewel Shards."

Kagome huffed, moving off of him as she sat up. She soon folded her arms underneath her breast, "Even if Inuyasha was the only reason, I wouldn't admit it. I'd sound seriously desperate…" She snorted softly, but she perked up, "…That is true. I could also collect the Jewels that way…but…" She'd have to leave her friends. Well, she could visit them, couldn't she? Everyone in her group would be worried about her though. The only crime would have not been giving Sesshomaru this chance. She smiled somewhat shyly, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, "…I'll go with you." It wasn't long before she latched onto him for another hug.

That was what he desired to hear . When she fell into his grasp, his arms entwined around her. Even he knew that she could not up and leave. She'd need preparation time, and he was willing to give it to her.

What if my only real reason for not going with you was Inuyasha, what would you do about it?" She abruptly asked, arching her brow as she peered at him.

"I will kill Inuyasha, eventually, but I would hasten his demise if that were the case." Was his simple response.

Her brow nearly twitched. Her grasp on him loosened as she peered at him closely, "Sesshomaru, you aren't still planning to steal the Tetsusaiga, are you?" She figured that they crossed that bridge long ago, but she should have known better, "Can't you just…let that go, for me?

"You misunderstand. This relationship that we have has nothing to do with Inuyasha, or the Tetsusaiga. I will have what is rightfully mine." Kagome's presence did not change his path of conquest. No outside factors would deter him from gaining the Tetsusaiga.

"Well, I think that you are a strong demon, and you should try to stand on your own without the Tetsusaiga." She couldn't figure out why Sesshomaru thought he needed the Tetsusaiga. He was already dangerous without a powerful sword. Someone like Inuyasha needed it- someone that truly had the heart to protect others. Sesshomaru would only use it in war.

"…You speak nonsense." That particular thought never crossed hi line of thinking. Standing on his own meant merely using his own strength- instead of his father's. It meant that he would stop pursuing Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga, but he could not fathom entering into battle without it.

"You call it nonsense, but it's the truth. You're great demon, and I'm sure that you're far stronger than you think…" With a peck at his lips, she nodded, passing him a reassuring smile, "Just try it, okay?"

At the trees near the edge of the clearing, Kagura's form observed. She had been there for some time- merely observing, "Since when did Inuyasha's wench start hanging around with Sesshomaru?" It was a new development that Naraku was going to be so very interested in, she was sure.