DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha is property of Takahashi Rumiko.


A Path Less trodden

2.

Observations

Higurashi Kagome was a strange human.

First and foremost, because she was prey and unlike any other human he had ever heard of, she acknowledged this almost… gracefully. Or with as much grace as a child who constantly tripped over her own feet was capable of. Nevertheless, when pressed into a corner she was capable of turning into a predator.


Though he had ordered the human to follow, Sesshomaru had no desire to provide for, protect or offer care to her whatsoever. He did not extend his hand to her, and she did not ask, did not complain, did not make a menace of herself. She diligently walked several steps behind him, her scent and strange aura always within reach, and never crossed the invisible line drawn. She did not speak to him or at him, did not approach his person nor attempt to initiate any sort of contact. Higurashi Kagome remained in her bubble and Sesshomaru was pleased.

The first time Sesshomaru left her behind, he expected to find her either frightened or gone upon his return. Instead, he found her standing in a circle of smouldering youkai remains, pale and sweaty, and very frightened yes, but victorious. She did not speak of it, and he did not ask, but he left again the next day, and once more after that.

He left her alone at different times for over a week and upon each return, he found the same scene: Higurashi Kagome, tiny as she was, surviving an assault by dozens of youkai.

"You are hunted."

Those were the first words Sesshomaru had said to Higurashi Kagome since he ordered her to follow, nearly two weeks before.

"Yes," she said quietly and swayed where she stood. The human was worn out, so much was clear, but she still walked after him and did not ask for respite. "Unless I am with you."

'Ah,' Sesshomaru thought dryly. 'She knows it.'

"Why?"

"I don't know."

'Truth,' Sesshomaru decided. His nose and ears would never fail to find a lie.

"Faster." He told the girl and noted she hurried her steps without complaints.

"There is something behind us," she said instead, just as quiet as before.

"Yes," Sesshomaru drawled.

"Do you feel it too?" it was the first thing she'd asked.

"Feel? No." Sesshomaru huffed. "This Sesshomaru scents it."

"Oh." The girl nodded her head - he heard her hair sway with the movement easily. "I… I feel them. It's sticky and heavy, like… mud. You're not like that."

Sesshomaru didn't acknowledged her words but made no indication that she should stop, either. So long as she spoke softly, just like this, he did not mind the babble.

"You feel like summer rain," the girl said, her voice even quieter. She probably thought he would not hear. "When the sun is scorching hot and the rain is freezing cold, and they come together out of nowhere."

"You are describing monsoon season."

The girl tripped, fell on her knees and then hurriedly scampered up again to continue on their way. Her heart hammered faster inside her weak ribcage and her breaths became a little strained. The strange aura around her smelt of ozone and something bitter, not unlike an unripe plum. Embarrassment and consternation.

'Monsoon season, indeed.'

If Sesshomaru was a monsoon, then she must be the lightest of spring drizzles, leaving no impact nor trace behind.


Second, because despite being a child, she was capable of obedience. Sesshomaru had very rarely come into contact with young of any species, but they were all without exception loud, chaotic and disobedient. Higurashi Kagome was as loud as all humans, incapable of quietness on the level of youkai, but she was obedient like the most disciplined of maids.


"Be still."

It was evident that she did not want to remain still, but the human child struggled against her instinct as she leaned against the tree where he had put her. The girl's stomach was bleeding - a wound inflicted by a pitchfork, wielded by a crazed hag who'd come running after their trail, screaming of demon whores and blasphemy.

The woman aimed for Sesshomaru's back and Higurashi Kagome shoved her aside in anger. The hag cracked her head on a rock as she fell, and her pitchfork jammed into the girl's stomach. The hag died and the girl might've, too, if Sesshomaru wished to allow it.

He didn't.

"Pain is only wind," Sesshomaru told the child as he tore the tattered kimono from around her wound and let his dokkasu gather on his claws. He looked into her teary, unusually blue eyes sternly and she gulped. "Repeat."

"P-pain is only wind," she muttered.

"Breathe." Sesshomaru ordered.

She inhaled.

"Do not scream."

His claws seared into the wound to stop the bleeding. Higurashi Kagome threw her head back, her teeth clenched so hard he heard them grind together, and she kicked out with one foot, smacking it against the ground once, twice, three times.

But she did not scream.


Third, because Higurashi Kagome had power enough to light up a moonless night.


'Do you have something to protect?'

'Yes. A region of it.' Sesshomaru answered the familiar question with familiar bitterness and, with a little bit less of it, observed the human girl from his spot hidden in the trees.

He had made up his mind to once again call upon his father's bastard and recruit him to the war. Though the battle had not yet began, nor was there an official declaration, it was coming fast, and it was the hanyo's duty to participate.

Sesshomaru had ordered the girl to stay in another clearing and went to fetch the mutt, only to find him just as sealed as before. Heart still, youki dormant, no signs of life or power on him. Angered beyond words, Sesshomaru had turned on his heel, grabbed the girl and promptly left the area. He then deposited her in a field and took off to calm his thoughts.

It had been the first time he touched her, as the sealing of her wound could hardly count. She was much smaller than he'd thought, only enforcing the feeling that the girl really was little more than a child, not even fully grown.

After his thoughts settled, instead of returning to her little camp, to offer her peace to sleep, he hid his aura and his scent, and nestled into the trees in silence to observe.

He watched her for hours as she fended off several demons, until the sun set and night settled, darker than previous nights as it was without a moon. The attacks were lesser than they should have been, but they were annoying all the same. When an ogre came, licking its lips at the sight of the young child, Sesshomaru grew tired of observing. He put a hand through the ogre's head, splattering blood and brain matter everywhere, including the girl's pale face.

He had expected her to scream, and she did - but not a shrill screech of fear and disgust. Rather, she shouted a warning. Not even a second later, an arrow pierced his back and Sesshomaru turned his head to look at the offending, but otherwise meaningless, thing sticking out of his shoulder. During this time, another arrow came shooting towards him, from the hands of a scowling human dressed in white and red - an attire that meant something, Sesshomaru knew, but he'd not stepped foot in Edo for over a century. He did not remember the meaningless practices of humans here.

"Stop!" the girl screeched, and that tone alone did more damage than the arrow ever could.

Sesshomaru intended to dispose of the arrogant interloper and then reprimand the other, but a short, frail body had already put itself behind his back, arms outstretched as if to shield him. The last time this had happened left a sour taste in his mouth and a gnarled scar on her stomach. This time, a shimmering light engulfed them, so bright it was enough to momentarily blind whoever looked at it directly.

By the time it dissipated, Sesshomaru had whisked the foolish child away, leaving a dead human behind - with a broken arrow pierced through one of her eyes. He had also come to realise there was something for him to protect outside of the Western Lands, whether he liked it or not.

After all, she had protected him first.