Chapter 37: Once a Lord
"I rely on myself, just making sure that was clear." A Day to Remember, This the House that Doubt Built
According to the priestess, this was a wind tunnel.
She swore to him that she had seen the wind tunnel in the future that her friend, a priest had one on his hand. She said that she had never seen a demon escape once they entered the wind tunnel. Sesshoumaru had not smelled a lie on her. However, the possibility that priests would have wind tunnels on their hands was startling.
Kagome had said that she doubted that they could escape.
That had almost made him laugh. Clearly, she was naive if she thought that they were trapped in here just because other demons had failed to escape. What did that have to do with him? They were probably weak that is why they could not escape from a mere priest.
He needed to think of a plan.
Sesshoumaru had yet to find an exit from this wind tunnel. Every few days the wind tunnel would open and more demons would appear here.
There was the option of flying out of here, but he was not sure that he could manage that escape. The winds were too fast even for him. The wind tunnel only stayed open for a few minutes at a time.
If he was alone than he would risk it.
However, he did not think that Kagome would survive that journey.
She would be killed by the pressure therefore that was not an option. He could leave her behind but he might not be able to come back in to get her.
"How long are you going to ignore me?" Kagome asked. "First you make me tell you everything that I know. Then you ignore me for two hours. I thought we were trying to figure this out together."
Sesshoumaru gave her a blank stare. "Are you suggesting that I need your counsel?"
"We are supposed to work together." She frowned.
He ignored her because he knew that it irritated her. It was easy to tease her.
"Sesshoumaru, you need to work on being nicer." Kagome whined.
Nice?
Why would ever want to be nice? No one respects someone that smiles easily and gives all their secrets. Regardless if they are demons or humans. Everyone respected strength. Those that craved being liked were weak seeking to get protection from those that are strong. Sesshoumaru was not weak therefore he had no need to please.
"You need to work on concealing your niceness." He said with disgust in his voice.
Her mouth dropped. "Why would I have to do that?"
He raised his eyebrow but did not answer. It was too obvious that he refused to explain. Kagome was entirely too trusting and naive. Her bleeding heart was open for anyone to take.
He did not like it. How could his brother allow her to become lost? He was such a fool.
If Kagome had not found him then surely she would be dead ten times over by know. She would not even die in an honorable way. Someone would easily trick her, rape her, and steal her powers, soul, then kill her.
It was ridiculous how trusting that she was. She had confessed so many secrets to him. He knew all about her love of his bastard of a brother, her conflicts with her education and the feudal era, and her fears of the future. He was surprised that she had told him so many secrets. He wondered if she always trusted so easily.
He had also found himself telling her about his family and obligations. Things that he had never talking to anyone about, yet somehow in the middle of the night when Kagome could not sleep, she would ask him questions about his life, and to his horror he would answer. Usually he would never answer such personal questions some of questions deserved swift punishment, but instead of punishing her, he would answer her.
An insect demon leaped in the air to attack Kagome.
She screamed in horror and to his horror. "Sesshoumaru!"
Without even looking, Sesshoumaru's whip sliced in half. How could she even have that much confidence to shout his name for all the world to hear? As if he were her pet that would come running.
Absolutely ridiculous.
How dare she rely on him? Rescuing humans. What had happened to his life? It was all the priestess's fault. He should allow her to be eaten than he would be free of her. It was better than hearing her screech his name.
Didn't he bestow his knowledge to help train her? What a waste.
Great. More insect demons had surrounded them. "Kagome."
She looked at him with determined eyes. "I'm ready."
He resisted the urge to insult her. Now she wanted to fight. But a moment ago, she was screaming. Where all humans this illogical?
A few minutes later, Sesshoumaru killed them all.
Kagome's face was red. "Why didn't you leave me even one to fight?"
He kept walking. Why must she insist on interrupting him when he was thinking?
Then Sesshoumaru heard the howl.
He snatched Kagome against his waist and ran.
"Put me down! What is wrong with you!" She shouted.
He ignored her. He did not have time to explain to her. It was easier this way. Maybe it was wrong that he took advantage of her trust but he knew as much as she complained that she trusted him with her life. She was a stupid girl.
"Sesshoumaru! I'm going to throw up on you." She threatened.
He ignored her.
There was no time.
Finally, after running miles in minutes. He saw them. Hundreds of dog demons. Many were injured. They were fighting against the hyena demons.
Sesshoumaru set Kagome down by a tree. "Stay here."
She stared at the battle then looked back at him and nodded.
He did not look back.
Kagome did not want to get in the middle of that battle. She was perfectly fine staying back here.
She watched him as Sesshoumaru conjured his demonic energy under his feet then flew straight to the battle.
He had no hesitation of fear. She knew that he wanted to get the strongest one who was fighting through his loyal demons. He had told her that one must always target the leader in order to break the moral of your enemies.
Sesshoumaru expanded his aura, forcing everyone to feel his presence. Kagome could not breathe until she put up a barrier to protect herself.
He took out his whip and cut through a dozen of the hyena demons and before the leader could react, then Sesshoumaru put his claws through his heart.
He threw the heart onto the ground and Kagome had to look away for a moment as her stomach turned.
When she looked, again the hyena demons stood still as they gazed at the body of their leader. All of the dog demons were bowing slightly before Sesshoumaru. Some of them had awe in their eyes. Others started chanting his name.
Then with a renewed energy, the dog demons fought against the hyena demons and won.
Kagome could not help but cheer until the truth hit her.
She sat on the ground as she realized that they were all trapped. Trapped in this prison. Everyone looked so hopeful as if Lord Sesshoumaru was going to save them.
Just like her.
Sesshoumaru was going to save them.
Yea right.
He was as stuck as they were.
He had no plan. He refused to admit it to her. She knew that if he knew how to escape then they would already be gone.
Wait? If Sesshoumaru found the other dog demons than will be, abandon her. He would not want to be seen with a human. That is why he told her to stay here.
She was going to be alone.
No wonder that he was so confident. She would be that way too if she had people treating her like that.
Somehow Kagome was starting to see Sesshoumaru as her friend. She was too comfortable. She trusted him. She was able to tell him things so easily. Even if he did make fun of her and glare at her. She was starting to think that this older demon that patiently trained, teased, and protected her everyday just might be her long, lost best friend.
She always called Inuyasha her best friend but that was a lie since you can't be in love with your best friend. Your best friend should be the one that is your living, breathing diary. The one that will guard your secrets like their own. She couldn't even tell Inuyasha her biggest secret that she was in love with him. The times that she had tried had left her stuttering and blushing.
It was so stupid of her to see Lord Sesshoumaru as her best friend. They were too different. After all once a lord always a lord, she was just a high school girl. It did not matter that they both loved learning, both held themselves to high standards and both of them hid themselves behind false masks.
That did not matter.
She had to face the reality that without Inuyasha, she was all alone. She needed to find a safe place and wait for him. Inuyasha would always find her.
She made a barrier to conceal her smell and powers like Sesshoumaru had taught her.
Then Kagome walked away.
There was no point in waiting here. Lord Sesshoumaru was not coming back.