(Inuyasha and Co do not belong to me. I just like to write about them! Hm, let's see what happens in this chapter! Sorry if the story is not er - faster!)
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Eleven
Kagome's Will/Separate Thoughts
It happened so fast that Kagome hardly had time to even think about what she had done. Sesshoumaru had his blade, the Gojakin, out in the blink of an eye, ready to strike!
She had blocked Sesshoumaru's attack with the Testusaiga!
Their eyes locked with one another's as Kagome tried not to let herself think about what would happen if she failed. Instead she focused on the demon-lord.
"Testusaiga still protects you, I see." Sesshoumaru did not look surprised.
"That's right..so back off, Fluffy!!" Kagome snarled.
~Fluffy? Why the heck did I call him THAT?~ Kagome thought.
Sesshoumaru wisely ignored THAT barb.
"You may be a hanyou, and you may be able to 'play' with the Tetsusaiga, girl, but you know even less how to handle it than than that fool, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru applied more pressure with the Gojakin, and made Kagome back up a step. He half-expected her to do as Inuyasha had done countless times, and attack, but she stood her ground. Sesshoumaru decided to goad the girl with something that would make her react - and slip up.
Jaken, by this time had come to the clearing where Sesshoumaru and Kagome were and he saw the fight at hand. Eagerly, he clapped his hands and cheered on his master.
"Yes! Sesshoumaru-sama! Show the human who is much greater!! Squash her like a rotten melon!" Jaken was relieved that his master had come to his senses.He would get the Tetsusaiga from the wretched woman, kill her and then things would be as they were before - once that brat Rin was disposed of.
"Foolish wench. Wasted emotion on a hanyou who preferred to rut with a dead woman than with you!" Sesshoumaru pressed in closer, already hearing her cry in his ears.
However, Kagome did not cry out, nor did she wildly attack him as Inuyasha had done with the Tetsusaiga. Instead her eyes hardened.
"Your words won't stop me, Sesshoumaru..your sword won't stop me. I WILL take the Tetsusaiga to it's rightful master. I WILL collect the Shikon shards and protect both our worlds - if I must come back from the afterlife to do so, I will!"
"But you will not stop me..you will NOT!" Kagome's eyes flashed with determination.
~Her will - it is what is fueling the Tetsusaiga!~ Sesshoumaru marveled at that fact. This was no weak human nor hanyou. Oh no, not at all. But, what WAS she?
Myoga, who had been riding on Kagome previously before her swim, deemed that it was somewhat safe and perched on her shoulder.
"Kagome! It is I, Myoga! Whatever it is you're doing, keep at it! Tetsusaiga is pushing Sesshoumaru-sama away! Look!"
One step and then two, Kagome WAS pushing Sesshoumaru away. It seemed that they would be locked this way forever.
Jaken was puzzled. "Nani? She is pushing him AWAY? No, it can't be! I must assist!" He aimed the staff of the heads at Kagome.
"Kagome, that toad Jaken! Watch out!" Myoga ducked into the folds of Kagome's blouse.
"Wha - " Kagome turned to block the attack coming from Jaken's staff, and the Tetsusaiga repelled Jaken, pushing him away unceremoniously down an incline. This, however gave Sesshoumaru his advantage. Although he could have used his sword on her, he did not. He flew into Kagome, tackling her down on the ground. Pinning her down, he stared into her face, searching for any hint of fear - there was none, only that same determination. The demon-lord took a whiff of her scent, but there was no fear there either. There was only that pleasant - too pleasant smell about her. He should kill her just for that.
"You won't stop me, Sesshoumaru. I won't let you." Kagome said.
"YOU won't? You are a delusional human.." Sesshoumaru's hand, claws extended, grazed her throat. He watched her racing pulse, fascinated for a spellbound moment.
"If you kill me, you will not get the Tetsusaiga, Sesshoumaru.." Kagome said softly.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly and then his hand tightened around her throat.
"You know the tongue of demons!?"
"Kill me and you will never know the true bond of Tensaiga and Tetsusaiga - their true power when used together.." Kagome's eyes were staring up at him. Sesshoumaru leaned in closer.
"Tell me.. Tell me now!" Sesshoumaru growled.
Kagome seemed to shake herself out of whatever had come over her for her eyes widened.
"Ahhhhh! You pervert! GET OFF ME!!" Kagome struggled against Sesshoumaru wildly. Sesshoumaru, however backed away slowly, his face unreadable. Kagome sat up and noticed that she was still clutching the Tetsusaiga. She looked up at Sesshoumaru as she held the now normal sword in front of her defensively.
"I will not harm you - for now." Sesshoumaru said. "Get up."
"I'm not going with you." Kagome said.
"It will near dusk soon enough, wench. You are a human - no, a hanyou female, alone. There are many youkai and hanyou who would enjoy feasting upon your charms."
"C - charms?" Kagome winced. She had forgotten about that particular danger.
"Dubious though they are. Some demons will mate with anything... Come with me and I shall offer protection for a time." Sesshoumaru said.
"I don't trust you." Kagome got up and placed the Tetsusaiga back into it's sheath.
"You would be a bigger fool than you are if you did, hanyou wench." He turned away, offering no reassurance of any kind that he would not attack her again. Kagome sighed. She could go alone, but with even with Tetsusaiga by her side, there was always the chance she could be attacked - especially since she had a Shikon shard. The Tetsusaiga and a Shikon shard would be throwing temptation to the winds.
Finally she had made up her mind. For now she would travel with Sesshoumaru, gathering as much information as she could about her surroundings. She would not need to stay with him long.
~Shard..~ Kagome thought as she went to follow Sesshoumaru. ~I sensed two from Jaken - didn't I?~
*****
Dusk was falling as Kagome followed Sesshoumaru into god knows where. Everything looked the same and they had come across no villages. Jaken followed slightly behind, casting glares at Kagome, but didn't do anything - not in front of Sesshoumaru anyway.
It was odd but although they had been traveling for most of the day with very little rest, Kagome was not tired. Her senses were very alive and she wondered if it was being exposed to the fresh clean air of this age that was doing it.
Unconsciously she fingered her shoulder where Inuyasha had bitten her once. No, it was because she was a hanyou - or so Sesshoumaru and Shikaru had called her. But why all of a sudden? If she had been a hanyou when Inuyasha had bitten her and she had bitten him, why had it taken so long to take effect? And why had it not happened in her world?
Her world. She hoped Sesshoumaru had not caught her slip. No one but her closest friends had known she was from Japan's future.
Future..was it her past now? Mama. Sota. Grandfather. Buyo. Hojo-kun. Her friends. Her life. Would she come back to it once her quest was through or would she fail, only to allow the Chaos that Kaedo had mentioned to take both worlds?
Kagome swallowed the threatening emotions. No, she would not cry. Not here. Not in front of that monster - that monster who could never feel anything. At least Inuyasha could feel -
~Yeah and he felt it all for Kikyou..~ Kagome thought glumly. ~Ah..~ She sighed softly, ~When will I be free of you, Inuyasha? Will I too, mourn for you as you mourned for Kikyou?~
****
Sesshoumaru was quiet - not an unusual occourance at all. Although his senses were aware of everything around him, he was deep in thought.
~Your words won't stop me, Sesshoumaru..your sword won't stop me. I WILL take the Tetsusaiga to it's rightful master. I WILL collect the Shikon shards and protect both our worlds - if I must come back from the afterlife to do so, I will! ~
Both our worlds..what did she mean by this? Surely she had not been a foriegner had she? Her strange clothes, her attitude were odd for a human to be sure, but then to Sesshoumaru, all humans were oddities and blights.
No, it was something deeper, more mysterious. She had spoke in the High Language of the demon tongue - a tongue that no human and very few hanyous could truly speak anymore. She could have not gained this from his half-brother, who possessed the filthy mouths of the humans more than the graceful speech of their father.
He did not look back at the woman - he had called her girl to humiliate her - but he knew she was keeping up well. The hanyou blood within her was growing stronger. That, teamed up with her strong will....
~She is thinking of Inuyasha..~ Sesshoumaru could smell the slight hint of despair about her, and then it changed to a sort of longing.
~Humans, why care for them..why love them?~ Sesshoumaru's words came back to haunt him.
Scanning the darkening skies, he said, "We will stop here - there is a cave near the grove. Jaken, you will set up camp. Also get some food." Kagome nearly ran into him, so intent was she in her thoughts. She backed away, embarassed, but Sesshoumaru pretended not to notice. It was beneath him to notice the flitting emotions of humans after all.
Jaken scowled. Once more his master seemed to be caring for the needs of the human! As his resentment grew, he felt the shards hidden in the babboon skin bag at his neck pulse a little, in time to his own pulse.
~Patience. Patience, Jaken. Soon..soon~
"Soon.." Jaken muttered and did as he was bid.
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Eleven
Kagome's Will/Separate Thoughts
It happened so fast that Kagome hardly had time to even think about what she had done. Sesshoumaru had his blade, the Gojakin, out in the blink of an eye, ready to strike!
She had blocked Sesshoumaru's attack with the Testusaiga!
Their eyes locked with one another's as Kagome tried not to let herself think about what would happen if she failed. Instead she focused on the demon-lord.
"Testusaiga still protects you, I see." Sesshoumaru did not look surprised.
"That's right..so back off, Fluffy!!" Kagome snarled.
~Fluffy? Why the heck did I call him THAT?~ Kagome thought.
Sesshoumaru wisely ignored THAT barb.
"You may be a hanyou, and you may be able to 'play' with the Tetsusaiga, girl, but you know even less how to handle it than than that fool, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru applied more pressure with the Gojakin, and made Kagome back up a step. He half-expected her to do as Inuyasha had done countless times, and attack, but she stood her ground. Sesshoumaru decided to goad the girl with something that would make her react - and slip up.
Jaken, by this time had come to the clearing where Sesshoumaru and Kagome were and he saw the fight at hand. Eagerly, he clapped his hands and cheered on his master.
"Yes! Sesshoumaru-sama! Show the human who is much greater!! Squash her like a rotten melon!" Jaken was relieved that his master had come to his senses.He would get the Tetsusaiga from the wretched woman, kill her and then things would be as they were before - once that brat Rin was disposed of.
"Foolish wench. Wasted emotion on a hanyou who preferred to rut with a dead woman than with you!" Sesshoumaru pressed in closer, already hearing her cry in his ears.
However, Kagome did not cry out, nor did she wildly attack him as Inuyasha had done with the Tetsusaiga. Instead her eyes hardened.
"Your words won't stop me, Sesshoumaru..your sword won't stop me. I WILL take the Tetsusaiga to it's rightful master. I WILL collect the Shikon shards and protect both our worlds - if I must come back from the afterlife to do so, I will!"
"But you will not stop me..you will NOT!" Kagome's eyes flashed with determination.
~Her will - it is what is fueling the Tetsusaiga!~ Sesshoumaru marveled at that fact. This was no weak human nor hanyou. Oh no, not at all. But, what WAS she?
Myoga, who had been riding on Kagome previously before her swim, deemed that it was somewhat safe and perched on her shoulder.
"Kagome! It is I, Myoga! Whatever it is you're doing, keep at it! Tetsusaiga is pushing Sesshoumaru-sama away! Look!"
One step and then two, Kagome WAS pushing Sesshoumaru away. It seemed that they would be locked this way forever.
Jaken was puzzled. "Nani? She is pushing him AWAY? No, it can't be! I must assist!" He aimed the staff of the heads at Kagome.
"Kagome, that toad Jaken! Watch out!" Myoga ducked into the folds of Kagome's blouse.
"Wha - " Kagome turned to block the attack coming from Jaken's staff, and the Tetsusaiga repelled Jaken, pushing him away unceremoniously down an incline. This, however gave Sesshoumaru his advantage. Although he could have used his sword on her, he did not. He flew into Kagome, tackling her down on the ground. Pinning her down, he stared into her face, searching for any hint of fear - there was none, only that same determination. The demon-lord took a whiff of her scent, but there was no fear there either. There was only that pleasant - too pleasant smell about her. He should kill her just for that.
"You won't stop me, Sesshoumaru. I won't let you." Kagome said.
"YOU won't? You are a delusional human.." Sesshoumaru's hand, claws extended, grazed her throat. He watched her racing pulse, fascinated for a spellbound moment.
"If you kill me, you will not get the Tetsusaiga, Sesshoumaru.." Kagome said softly.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly and then his hand tightened around her throat.
"You know the tongue of demons!?"
"Kill me and you will never know the true bond of Tensaiga and Tetsusaiga - their true power when used together.." Kagome's eyes were staring up at him. Sesshoumaru leaned in closer.
"Tell me.. Tell me now!" Sesshoumaru growled.
Kagome seemed to shake herself out of whatever had come over her for her eyes widened.
"Ahhhhh! You pervert! GET OFF ME!!" Kagome struggled against Sesshoumaru wildly. Sesshoumaru, however backed away slowly, his face unreadable. Kagome sat up and noticed that she was still clutching the Tetsusaiga. She looked up at Sesshoumaru as she held the now normal sword in front of her defensively.
"I will not harm you - for now." Sesshoumaru said. "Get up."
"I'm not going with you." Kagome said.
"It will near dusk soon enough, wench. You are a human - no, a hanyou female, alone. There are many youkai and hanyou who would enjoy feasting upon your charms."
"C - charms?" Kagome winced. She had forgotten about that particular danger.
"Dubious though they are. Some demons will mate with anything... Come with me and I shall offer protection for a time." Sesshoumaru said.
"I don't trust you." Kagome got up and placed the Tetsusaiga back into it's sheath.
"You would be a bigger fool than you are if you did, hanyou wench." He turned away, offering no reassurance of any kind that he would not attack her again. Kagome sighed. She could go alone, but with even with Tetsusaiga by her side, there was always the chance she could be attacked - especially since she had a Shikon shard. The Tetsusaiga and a Shikon shard would be throwing temptation to the winds.
Finally she had made up her mind. For now she would travel with Sesshoumaru, gathering as much information as she could about her surroundings. She would not need to stay with him long.
~Shard..~ Kagome thought as she went to follow Sesshoumaru. ~I sensed two from Jaken - didn't I?~
*****
Dusk was falling as Kagome followed Sesshoumaru into god knows where. Everything looked the same and they had come across no villages. Jaken followed slightly behind, casting glares at Kagome, but didn't do anything - not in front of Sesshoumaru anyway.
It was odd but although they had been traveling for most of the day with very little rest, Kagome was not tired. Her senses were very alive and she wondered if it was being exposed to the fresh clean air of this age that was doing it.
Unconsciously she fingered her shoulder where Inuyasha had bitten her once. No, it was because she was a hanyou - or so Sesshoumaru and Shikaru had called her. But why all of a sudden? If she had been a hanyou when Inuyasha had bitten her and she had bitten him, why had it taken so long to take effect? And why had it not happened in her world?
Her world. She hoped Sesshoumaru had not caught her slip. No one but her closest friends had known she was from Japan's future.
Future..was it her past now? Mama. Sota. Grandfather. Buyo. Hojo-kun. Her friends. Her life. Would she come back to it once her quest was through or would she fail, only to allow the Chaos that Kaedo had mentioned to take both worlds?
Kagome swallowed the threatening emotions. No, she would not cry. Not here. Not in front of that monster - that monster who could never feel anything. At least Inuyasha could feel -
~Yeah and he felt it all for Kikyou..~ Kagome thought glumly. ~Ah..~ She sighed softly, ~When will I be free of you, Inuyasha? Will I too, mourn for you as you mourned for Kikyou?~
****
Sesshoumaru was quiet - not an unusual occourance at all. Although his senses were aware of everything around him, he was deep in thought.
~Your words won't stop me, Sesshoumaru..your sword won't stop me. I WILL take the Tetsusaiga to it's rightful master. I WILL collect the Shikon shards and protect both our worlds - if I must come back from the afterlife to do so, I will! ~
Both our worlds..what did she mean by this? Surely she had not been a foriegner had she? Her strange clothes, her attitude were odd for a human to be sure, but then to Sesshoumaru, all humans were oddities and blights.
No, it was something deeper, more mysterious. She had spoke in the High Language of the demon tongue - a tongue that no human and very few hanyous could truly speak anymore. She could have not gained this from his half-brother, who possessed the filthy mouths of the humans more than the graceful speech of their father.
He did not look back at the woman - he had called her girl to humiliate her - but he knew she was keeping up well. The hanyou blood within her was growing stronger. That, teamed up with her strong will....
~She is thinking of Inuyasha..~ Sesshoumaru could smell the slight hint of despair about her, and then it changed to a sort of longing.
~Humans, why care for them..why love them?~ Sesshoumaru's words came back to haunt him.
Scanning the darkening skies, he said, "We will stop here - there is a cave near the grove. Jaken, you will set up camp. Also get some food." Kagome nearly ran into him, so intent was she in her thoughts. She backed away, embarassed, but Sesshoumaru pretended not to notice. It was beneath him to notice the flitting emotions of humans after all.
Jaken scowled. Once more his master seemed to be caring for the needs of the human! As his resentment grew, he felt the shards hidden in the babboon skin bag at his neck pulse a little, in time to his own pulse.
~Patience. Patience, Jaken. Soon..soon~
"Soon.." Jaken muttered and did as he was bid.
