Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this small set of scenes… especially for the realist. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Risk
The taijiya stood rigid, eyes burning with unshed tears, and the tragedy in her face wrung Kagome's heart. Sango's brave front wasn't fooling any of them, not when they all knew that Kohaku's very life hung in the balance.
This was the first time in months that they were close to the boy, and though chances were slim—there was a chance to reach him. However, their plan depended heavily on the taiyoukai in their midst, and his flat refusal to cooperate had taken them by surprise. No amount of arguing—or shouting—on Inuyasha's part had changed Sesshoumaru's mind, and the hanyou's patience was at its breaking point.
"Why?" he finally bellowed. "At least tell us why you're being an ass about this!"
"It is a trap," Sesshoumaru stated with grim finality, obviously considering the matter closed.
Inuyasha's expression was thunderous as he turned on his heel and stalked away. He paused beside Sango, not quite able to meet her gaze. "We'll figure something out. Don't worry," he promised, and then he leapt away into the leaf-bare trees.
Miroku hovered near Sango, and for once, he seemed afraid to touch her, as if he knew a gentle hand might shatter her fragile control. Studying Sesshoumaru with troubled eyes, the monk beckoned to Kagome and drew her to one side. "Speak with him for us," he begged in low tones.
"Me?" Kagome whispered incredulously.
Nodding solemnly, he murmured, "You may be able to change his mind."
"You're the one with diplomatic experience," she countered. "Maybe if you explained…?"
"Kagome-sama, don't underestimate your unique influence," Miroku said, smiling faintly. "Try. Please?"
One glance in Sango's direction made up her mind. "I will," she promised.
Kagome hesitantly approached the taiyoukai, who stood on an outcropping within view of their camp, his eyes trained on the swirling miasma blanketing the valley below. "Sesshoumaru-sama, may I speak with you?"
Golden eyes skimmed her face before resuming their contemplation. "I cannot stop you," he replied blandly.
She edged closer, hugging her arms across her chest as she followed his line of sight. "Kohaku's down there," she began conversationally. "I can feel his shard."
"He is the puppet of our enemy."
Kagome frowned. "He's also the much-loved brother of our friend, and we haven't given up on him."
"Wishful thinking," the taiyoukai said coolly. "The boy is under Naraku's control."
Kagome's eyes flashed with the first signs of temper, and she stepped forward, saying, "That's right, he's a boy—a sweet, gentle boy! We can't leave him to Naraku, not when there's a chance to rescue him!"
"Bringing him into our midst gives the enemy a foothold," Sesshoumaru countered, his gaze sweeping towards the camp and those under his protection. "The risk is too great."
"It's a chance we're willing to take," she argued, her tone sharpening. "Sometimes, trust turns out to be worth the risk."
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, and Kagome held her breath. "Are you finished?" he inquired softly.
"Erm… yeah. I guess so," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
He was gone in the next instant, and Kagome slowly sank to the ground, feeling like a failure. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she hid her face and shed some of the tears that Sango wouldn't.
Brisk steps churned up the miasma lying thick around his feet, tainting the air with spiraling vapors that spelled death to humans. Sesshoumaru pressed unerringly forward, ignoring the labored breathing of the stubborn hanyou who'd spotted him and followed.
Inuyasha's eyes watered as he squinted into the gloom. "Gotta be getting close," he muttered through the fabric of his sleeve.
"Hnn."
The noxious mists parted then, revealing a boy huddled on the ground, his eyes glassy over the slayer's mask he wore.
"Kohaku!" Inuyasha exclaimed, rushing forward. Immediately, a swarm of low-level demons writhed into view, their eyes red with malice. Unsheathing Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha charged into the fray, shouting over his shoulder. "You grab the kid!"
Sesshoumaru gazed after him, less than impressed with the division of labor. Senses alert, he searched the vicinity for signs of danger or trickery but found none. Lips tightening in dissatisfaction, he turned his attention to Kohaku.
The boy lethargically lifted wide, brown eyes to the pale demon towering over him. They were not unlike his sister's in shape and color, but instead of pleading for life, these eyes begged for death.
Smothering a sigh, he collared the boy and tugged him to his feet.
Shortly thereafter, a Wind Scar ripped through the attacking hoard, lifting Sesshoumaru's hair with its force. He glanced toward the hanyou, who was making quick work of the riff-raff. The taiyoukai stood mutely, fully expecting his brother to come and take charge of the boy, but Inuyasha only smirked at him.
"What's takin' you so long?" he called mockingly, sheathing his sword and running off the way they'd come.
Sesshoumaru settled onto the ground in the midst of the camp, well ahead of his half-brother. Kohaku hung limp and unresisting under his arm as he crossed to Kagome. With a good deal more care than he afforded the meat he regularly presented, he lowered the boy to the ground and stepped back.
For several long moments, no one knew how to react, but then a strangled cry escaped Sango, and she was on her knees, throwing her arms around Kohaku's thin shoulders as tears poured down her cheeks. Miroku quickly joined her, unobtrusively looking the boy over for injuries as he removed the ornate mask.
Kagome's gaze shifted from the aloof taiyoukai to the huddled group around Kohaku, then back to Sesshoumaru. "You did it," she gasped.
"Keh," Inuyasha grumbled as he sauntered up. "Don't give the bastard too much credit; I did all the work."
"You brought him back!" she joyfully exclaimed, briefly tugging Inuyasha's hand into her own, much to his embarrassment. Turning to Sesshoumaru, she added, "Both of you," with just as much warmth, if more restraint.
The taiyoukai grew wary when she approached, and for a second, Kagome thought he would bolt. Determined to thank him properly, she bowed deeply, but the gesture was just too formal. Before she could talk herself out of it, she reached out and pressed her hand to his forearm, saying, "I'm so grateful."
Sesshoumaru started when her ever-erratic miko powers overflowed, sending an emotionally-charged jolt up his arm.
An instant later, she broke the contact, apparently oblivious to the brief surge, and hurried to join Miroku and Sango. Rin and Shippo still hung back, leaning against Ah-Un under Jaken's watchful eye, but Kirara had thrust herself into Kohaku's lap, purring riotously as she rubbed her face against his.
Inuyasha sidled to his half-brother's side as they watched Kagome kneel beside Sango. Sesshoumaru's gaze sharpened with interest as the miko's hand settled over the boy's shoulder blade, and a brilliant flare of purification suffused the shard embedded there.
Kohaku's eyes immediately cleared, and he glanced around in confusion. "S-Sango?" he rasped, sending his sister into a fresh round of tears.
Grunting his satisfaction, Inuyasha gave his brother a sidelong glance. "If that was a trap, it was a lousy one."
Sesshoumaru nodded once.
Inuyasha speculated, "Maybe the kid was trying to get away on his own?"
He frowned faintly as he watched Kagome blink back sympathetic tears of joy. "Or perhaps the boy is the trap."
End Note: There's a new Sess/Kag contest community on Live Journal that operates in affiliation with Dokuga—a fanfiction and fanart archive which also hosts forums and quarterly awards for the pairing. This oneshot was written for the Live Journal community dokuga(underscore)contest and their prompt for Contest #01—Trap. First posted to Live Journal on September 19, 2008. 1,237 words.