Aphiopsyduck: Hello all! I got this idea after watching A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart the other night. I haven't seen this particular take on the story before, though... Anyhoo. I hope you guys enjoy this! :o)
A Love Ballad
Chapter 5: Full Circle
Sesshoumaru woke to the sound of bare feet running towards his room. Before he could react, Rin had thrown open his door, giggling madly. "Ohayo, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
A wheezing Jaken followed. "I apologize (huff) Master (huff) she (huff) got (huff) away from—"
Sesshoumaru rose. "Jaken." Rin stopped jumping on Sesshoumaru's bed and watched both demons.
Cringing, Jaken bowed his head. "H—Hai, Master?"
"You are free to discipline Rin."
Jaken's jaw dropped, then slammed shut. Grinning, he looked at Rin, who was frowning. "With pleasure, master!" Jaken grabbed Rin's arm and dragged her out of the room. "I knew Lord Sesshoumaru didn't like you, human!"
"And Jaken? Remember she is MY ward…"
At his nod, the demon lord dismissed the pair. Sesshoumaru watched them leave and chuckled. He knew Jaken wouldn't do anything to Rin, yet felt he could trust him to take care of her—and keep her in line. He rose and dressed, heading to the dinning room earlier than usual.
*****
Inuyasha had spent the night away from camp, the memory of Kagome's punishments still fresh in his mind. It was there, alone, where Sesshoumaru found him. "Feh, get it over with and leave me alone."
"Did you not sleep well, after so many punishments for your own stupidity?"
Inuyasha's eyebrows shot upward. "How'd you—"
Sesshoumaru ignored him. "Where are they?"
Inuyasha grabbed the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. "You won't hurt them!"
Sesshoumaru calmly looked at him. "No, I shall not. But that is not your concern."
Inuyasha frowned. "You swear?"
"I, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, swear not to harm Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kagome. Nor you"
Shocked, Inuyasha fell from his tree. "Um, well…" Inuyasha started walking towards camp, followed by Sesshoumaru.
*****
The small group was still asleep when Inuyasha came in, followed by Sesshoumaru. The demon lord noted how Sango and Miroku slept close together, yet far from Kikyo. He also noted how tightly clenched was the boomerang in the demon slayer's hand and chuckled. Startled, Inuyasha backed away from him, tripping over the remnants of last night's fire.
The noise woke Miroku up, then Sango. "Whu? Oh, Hello, Inuyasha…" The greeting died in Miroku's throat as he noticed the demon lord near the edge of camp. Kirara growled and grew to her bigger size, while Sango stood gripping her boomerang tightly and watching Sesshoumaru carefully. Kikyo had opened her eyes but made no move.
"Guys, it's okay." Something in Inuyasha's voice caught the attention of Miroku, who frowned. "Inuyasha?"
"He swore." Sango gasped and Miroku dropped, both too shocked to say anything more.
Gesturing for Sesshoumaru to take a seat, Inuyasha sat. "Feh, explain then. Why are you here?"
"To do something I should have done before." Raising Tenseiga, he struck Kikyo. Kikyo screamed, then collapsed into a pile of dust, which blew away in the breeze. Many shimmering orbs floated upward and away, except for one that remained for a minute before heading towards the north. With a nod, Sesshoumaru turned to leave. "I only did this to prove a point, Inuyasha. If Kikyo had been truly alive, she would have come back to you just now." Seeing Inuyasha's shocked expression, he sighed. "I know it was a drastic thing to do, but I felt I must do it. Besides, you have others to worry about now. Let Kikyo rest in peace." With that, he turned to leave, then turned back again. "Your brother waits for you in a village to the south. The shard has been removed, so he is no longer under Naraku's control."
As Sesshoumaru left, he noted Sango's happy cry and Miroku's pain-filled cry from when the demon exterminator had thrown herself at him. Chuckling, he left them alone.
He walked a few yards into the woods, then paused and waited. Soon Inuyasha joined him. "Why?"
"She was not real, little brother. She was an illusion. Someday you'll be able to revive her once more, but not like she was now. Neither of you was happy, right?" With that, he started walking again. "Remember, the Tenseiga's powers can only go so far. It was useless for Kikyo's situation. I suggest you find another way to revive her—or just wait until she is reincarnated once more."
"You… You called me brother…"
Sesshoumaru turned to Inuyasha, a small smile on his lips. "Seems I'd forgotten quite a few things, huh? But I must hurry. There is one more thing I must do."
Inuyasha looked hard at his brother, then nodded. "If something happens to her…"
Sesshoumaru laughed. "I fear her wrath more than yours, little brother. But I understand."
*****
"Kouga! Kouga! Come out now!" At the urgent cries of several guards, Kouga and Kagome raced from the cave to find Sesshoumaru at the mouth, frowning slightly.
Kouga growled. "What are you doing here? Did that bitch Kurotsume say anything?"
"I have yet to speak to her about anything. I merely wish to speak to the miko." He smothered a grin at her indignant frown.
Kouga placed himself in front of Kagome. "You won't hurt my mate!" Several wolves joined Kouga, blocking Kagome from view.
"You leave me no choice, wolf." Sesshoumaru put two fingers to his lips and whistled. Ah and Un landed nearby, and a small figure jumped down. Hair flying behind her, she latched onto Sesshoumaru's leg. Kouga paled. "No…"
The little girl looked around, then squealed. "Kagome-neechan!" She released the demon lord's leg long enough to race through the confused wolves before she latched onto Kagome's leg. "Rin missed you, neechan."
Kagome blushed and looked at the demon lord.
"Rin, come." The little girl released Kagome and raced back to Sesshoumaru, latching onto his leg once more. The demon lord frowned at the wolves and human. "Kouga, Prince of Wolves, step forward."
Trembling, Kouga took two steps towards Sesshoumaru. Kagome moved to join him, but one glare from Sesshoumaru stopped her dead. He turned to Kouga once more. "You and your tribe shall take care of my ward while I speak to the miko. If something were to happen to her, you shall feel my wrath. Understood?"
Rin looked at Sesshoumaru. "I don't like wolves, Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Kouga is not like those wolves, Rin. He is trustworthy. Now go." The little girl looked at Sesshoumaru, then at Kouga. She slowly released the demon lord and walked over to where Kouga stood. "Hi! Rin's name is Rin!"
Kouga looked at the little girl, then at Sesshoumaru. "Lord Sesshoumaru—"
"We shall talk later. Now leave us alone." Reaching behind Kagome, he grasped her 'tail' and pulled it off, causing it to explode, which left a sputtering Shippou in his grasp. "And take the kit with you." With one nod, Kouga and the rest of the wolves scattered, taking Shippou and Rin and leaving Sesshoumaru with Kagome.
Sesshoumaru paused. How to begin… "You're insensitive, you know that?"
Sesshoumaru's lip twitched. O-kay, that's one way… "I did not come to speak about Kouga's mistakes."
Kagome paused, confused. "Okay… Then no matter what you do to me, Inuyasha won't give you Tetsusaiga!"
Sesshoumaru laughed, startling Kagome and several other wolves Kouga had stationed nearby just in case. "Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"You are one funny girl, Kagome!" Laughing harder, Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome's waist and lifted her upwards. Spinning madly, he turned and turned several times before lowering her and kissing her.
Releasing her, Sesshoumaru grabbed her hands, conscious of the crowd that had gathered around them. "Kagome, will you do me the honor of letting me court you?"
Kagome only stared at him, a blush on her cheeks. "Um… Um…"
"If it is the matter of meeting your family, I shall wait until they give their approval."
Kagome shook her head. "It's not that. It's just…"
"I do not want a weak mate. I want someone capable of taking care of herself, who can be a lady when it is required, and who does not mind a child not of her. Someone capable of being true to herself above all else. Someone not afraid of the Demon Lord of the Western Lands." He reached a clawed hand under her chin and lifted it until their eyes met. "Are you that person, Kagome?"
"But—But—You know nothing about me!"
"I know more than you think." He growled a warning at Kouga, who was creeping closer to them. "Rin falls over that cliff and you're dead." With a yelp, Kouga sped off towards the little girl desperately reaching downwards towards a purple flower on the rocky face of the cliff.
"I know you've taken in a demon child. I know you're tolerant of the way Inuyasha treats you. I know you're not capable of killing Kikyo, even though she deserves it for hurting you and your friends repeatedly." Sesshoumaru pulled out his trump card. "I know you haven't purified me to death yet, even when you've had the chance."
"You're not evil!"
Sesshoumaru smiled. "And you don't judge people based on a meeting. You give everyone a chance, even when they are not deserving." Sesshoumaru stroked her cheek, making her blush. I need someone capable of loving my baka brother, a lecher, and a couple of demon exterminators, along with a human orphan and a cranky toad. Someone who can look past the cold outer façade of a demon lord and see what's underneath. I ask you once more, what do you say? Will you consent to my courting you?" The demon lord held his breath and waited.
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru, frowning slightly. She then smiled. "Yes, I consent. But I must warn you, my grandfather will not make it easy! And my brother will pet your tail, along with my mom, and—"
Sesshoumaru shut her up with another kiss.
And the demon lord finally realized what he was missed earlier.
*****
Rin watched from a distance, a smile on her lips. Shrugging, she made
her way towards the cliff; there was another pretty flower for her to pull,
now that she might be getting a mother…
The End!