Title: Enough
Author: Hairann
Theme: Flourish
Genre: Drama, Action
AU/CU: Canon
Rating: T
Warnings: Violence
Word Count: 1177
Summary: There once was a priestess who found binding a demon to be the hardest thing she ever had to do. 50 years later another priestess found releasing him to be the easiest. History repeats itself, only this time binding the demon was easy, it was releasing him that proved to be difficult.
Prompt Summary: When Sesshoumaru refuses to do as she asks, Kagome has to use her only means to get him to comply left. Something she wished she never had to do.

AN: Part 25 of Voluntary Obligation.

Sesshoumaru stared down into her resolve harden eyes, her words ringing in his elven ears as he fought against all that demanded he refuse or accept her request. She had no right to ask him to do such a thing and no matter how many words of reassurance she gave him, he would never truly see it her way. If he was to do as she had asked, she had demanded, he would be placing a bruise upon more than just her body. Also his honor and strangely enough, his heart.

The powerful demon lord was no innocent child, he had slaughter hundreds, orphaned dozens of children, not unlike his own ward. He had killed and maimed, fought against warriors and peasants alike. He had been just and without cause. Moral and immoral. Right and wrong. But never before in his many years upon this earth had he ever taken his fist to an unarmed woman, human or otherwise. And he had no desire to start now, no matter how much she might have wished him to. "Do not ask me to do this. You ask too much."

Silently, Kagome captured his gaze with her own, watching as the barely noticeable emotions raged a war of their own within his eyes. "I know, Sesshoumaru. If I had another choice, I would not ask it of you. But if it were to be anyone else, you would kill them. It must be done and you must be the one to do it," she insisted as she raised her hand and gently placed her chilled fingers upon his heated cheek. His own pale hand reached up to cover hers as he held it in place.

"What you ask could easily scar you for life, if it does not kill you. And yet you want me to risk it? I can not do that, I will not. We will find another way for your plan to work that does not result in me having to beat you," Sesshoumaru decided as he stepped back, her hand falling silently to her side as it fell from his cheek. Giving him a soft, almost sad smile, Kagome continued to watch him in silence for a few moments longer before finally answering him.

"If it is not real, there is a chance they will not believe me and it could endanger my life. An outcome that is far more likely than you doing so. Ungai knows how deep my friendships are with demons, he knows that I would sooner die than betray them. The only way to convince him that I have switched sides, is for him to believe that any feelings I may have had for demons were destroyed. If you were to attack me unprovoked and seriously injury me, I would lose all faith in you. Or at least, that is what he would believe.

"I know you do not want this, Sesshoumaru, probably as much as I do not want to place it on your shoulders, but it must be done. And it must be your aura that clings to the bruises. I do not want to make you do this, but if you will not do it on your own, than I will be forced to make you. And I know how, Sesshoumaru. Please do not make me take away your free will," Kagome pleaded as she gestured for the others to leave the clearing before turning back to Sesshoumaru once they were out of sight.

As Sesshoumaru thought over the possibility of her actually being able to follow through on her threat, he watched her eyes for any betrayal of her emotions, but found none. Deciding to call her on her bluff, Sesshoumaru turned his back and began walking away. As Kagome watched his actions, a single tear went unnoticed in the corner of her eye as she unshouldered her bow and began to ready her first arrow. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly to him, just as she pulled the string taunt and released a arrow filled with holy power.

Sensing the incoming threat, Sesshoumaru turned back with a roar and watched the arrow land but inches from him. Confused, he glanced around the clearing to find who had attacked him, only to see Kagome notching another arrow. "Don't," he demanded, answered by her blinking away her tears as she released the arrow, aiming it straight at him this time. Mere seconds before it would have hit him, Sesshoumaru batted it away, resulting in the back of his arm being burned. "Do not do this Kagome, I will kill you," he warned, even as his usually golden eyes began to bleed red and he fought against his instincts screaming at him to remove the threat.

"Neither of us have any other choice, Sesshoumaru. We both must do the one thing we never wanted to have to do. There is far too much at stake to take any chances. I'm sorry I have to hurt you, but you have left me no choice. Now I will do the same for you," Kagome informed him as her third arrow was notched and released, sending a purifying projectile straight for his chest. This too he batted away, but as he was distracted by it, she shot another aimed at him arm, grazing him as it flew passed.

Sesshoumaru roared in anger as her power burned the flesh of his arm, sending waves of extreme pain through him. "Attack me, Sesshoumaru," she pleaded with him even as she shot arrow after arrow, lightly pelting him in non-lethal spots. "Hurry before it is too late and you transform. While you're still in control," she continued, even as she readied another arrow, closing her pain filled eyes as she released it so she wouldn't have to see it hurting him.

After his answering roar, she reopened them only to find he was still remaining where he had been, though his usually golden eyes had begun to bleed red. "Now Sesshoumaru, there isn't much time. If the plan is to flourish, you have to attack me. I have but one arrow left," she informed him as she pulled said arrow from her quiver. "Judging by the amount you've transformed already, this arrow will be enough to cause it to complete. My safety can not be guaranteed if it goes that far. You're out of time, Sesshoumaru. You have to attack me now."

"You will pay for this," Sesshoumaru warned her with a resounding roar before bearing his fangs and closing the distance between them. Seeing her plan was finding working, Kagome released her bow and arrow with a sigh of relief and closed her umber eyes. Even as she could hear his fist cutting through the air toward her and felt its first impact upon her face, Kagome heard his whispered words, "You have gotten your way, but I wonder if you truly understand the cost. Both to yourself and mine."