(AN)---All those people who guessed (guessed?! Was there any doubt?!) Sesshoumaru...please, give yourself a pat on the back! Wow, he finally makes an appearance in CHAPTER SIX. I did not know it would take me this many chapters to get here.
Also, I have nothing left to say to 'It's Me'(who hides behind anonymity), but...your last 'review'? It made me smile. Thanks! ^_^
I'm glad that none of you are experiencing problems with the format. I was afraid I was going to have to repost the story. *heaves a sigh of relief*
baka deshi, thank you for explaining the problem! BTW, I read "LemonAid", too! You mentioned several things I've never understood about some IY fics. First, some of the sexual acts that occur, like you said, are not even possible. I mean, those CLAWS! OWWIE! I've always wondered why people seem to forget how sharp they are. *shakes head* Also, I've always wanted to write a little fic that explains HOW, WHY, and WHAT happens when a dog goes into heat. It is NOT romantic! There are so many misconceptions within the Inuyasha fandom centred around that idea alone! I just have one question for you. Do you dislike 'lemons', or just badly written ones? ^_^
I know I said I would post this chapter in a couple days, but you all were so supportive...it made me write faster! So, I'm posting chapter six today! Yay! Also, tomorrow I will be, ff.net willing, posting the second chapter of ICE. ^_^ If you're keeping up with that fic, be sure to look sometime around mid-afternoon. That is, if you live anywhere near my time zone...:-\ Well, regardless, it will be up tomorrow!
Thanks everybody! :-D
Juxtaposition
Chapter Six:
Quick Decisions
The man jerked free of her, but she didn't care. Or even particularly notice. Walking calmly down the village main street, steps set but unhurried, was none other than Inuyasha's murdering half-brother, Sesshoumaru. Kagome's startled lips formed around the name silently. The distant fire from that one burning building reflected beautifully off his long silver hair.
She jumped at a sharp tug on her sock; she looked down to see Kirara pulling on it with her little fangs, one paw raised tentatively. Hide, she was saying with her body language, he hasn't seen us yet. Hide. Hide. It sounded very good. Kagome immediately dove behind the corner of the nearest hut, her heart beating so hard with the hope that he hadn't seen her, and dread that he had.
What is he doing here?! Wait, what did that man say? Treasure? I didn't think Sesshoumaru cared about any treasure besides Tetsusaiga? Something...just doesn't feel right here.
But what? I---
A man screamed, a high, terror-filled cry suddenly cut-off into silence. Kagome's shoulders tightened as the sound shattered all her calm thoughts. He's killing people. I can't just sit around and let this continue. Three deep breaths, Kagome slowly slid an arrow out of her quiver and armed her bow, steadying the head against fingers that shook.
She peeked around the corner, her dark eyes widening. Sesshoumaru held a villager in one hand high off the ground. The man was struggling, kicking his legs and beating at the claws wrapped loosely around his throat, but the inuyoukai stood quietly, unmoved. His hand started to glow and pulse with frightening power. Kagome watched as the flesh of the man's throat started to melt away.
Now, a tiny place in the back of her mind whispered, a place that was cold and untouched by the horrors of the world, now is the time to strike. And it silently ticked through a list of reasons for her, sending them all to the front of her brain in a burst of adrenaline. His one hand is occupied, cutting down his defense. He cannot smell, or even hear you in this constantly shifting din of human life. You have the element of surprise on your side.
Her time was running out if she wanted to act. She didn't, but she didn't think she had a choice either. She had to protect the people of the village, even at the cost of her own life. Stepping out from behind the building, only enough to take a better firing stance, Kagome pulled the string of her bow tighter and sighted along the point. Silence filled her, and when she felt it stretch all the way down, she fired.
She had been aiming at his heart, but the purifying shaft struck his arm instead, immediately cutting off the flow of poison to his victim. The man crumbled to the ground and Sesshoumaru turned, looked at her. His eyes widened when he saw her, but only for a second. In the same second they darkened, an anger filling them that she had only seen when he was close to losing his human shape.
Kagome gasped, tried to backpedal as the demon lord disappeared. Something had gone wrong, he was supposed to be dead, hurt, something!
The miko turned around to run and her face smacked into something sharp, she stumbled back from the impact, or started to. A hand grasped the collar of her uniform and wrenched her off her feet.
Blood poured down her cheek, a nice steady red line to accent the bruises she already carried from the night before. There was blood on Sesshoumaru's armor, a tiny drop on one of the thick, sharp spikes. His hand balled tighter in her shirt, strangling her.
Kagome wrapped both her hands around his striped wrist, pulling at it, biting her nails into it. Sesshoumaru stared up at her calmly, watching how her face contorted with the effort to breathe and struggle at the same time. Their eyes met for one second, cold, impassive gold striking against pain-filled brown.
I...I can't die like this! Kagome abruptly let go of his wrist. Her shaking fingers reached out and brushed the feathered end of her arrow. She grasped it, shoved it deeper into his flesh. At the same time, she poured her magic into it, pink purifying light in hot desperate waves. His skin sizzled and smoked.
Sesshoumaru threw her. She was airborne for several seconds before something snatched her out of the air, and set her down on her feet. Her legs instantly buckled, and she landed in a heap on the ground, her breath screaming and wheezing through her bruised throat. Kagome felt the sting of tears as they started to drip down over the shallow gash in her cheek.
There was a deep rumble close to her ear, the miko looked up to find Kirara standing over her, flashing her fangs at the youkai lord threateningly. Sesshoumaru glared at Kagome, blood pouring down his wounded arm and discoloring his once white sleeve. He raised that arm and light flickered around his claws, a sickly green glow. In one gesture his glowing hand cut through the air.
Kagome gasped, flinched back in wait for his claws to whip across her body.
Nothing came. Her arrow pulsed a bright pink, making the blood flow faster from his wound, but cutting off the flow of power through his arm all-together. Or more, restraining it. Sesshoumaru growled at the offending piece of wood and feathers. The stripes on his wrist faded.
Kagome climbed to her feet, breath still heaving through her chest, but more quietly. She stared at the youkai, not willing to take her eyes off him, and walked to where her bow had fallen. Her fingers scratched the dirt when she picked it up, trembling from fatigue, but the wood was solid in her grip and her movements were steady. She drew another arrow.
Sesshoumaru must have been weakened by her magic, that or he just didn't care. He stared at her coldly, not bothering to make any moves to protect himself or flee. But when he spoke, rage trembled through his words. Enough to make her hands shake again.
"Where is she?"
Kagome held her bow steady, not sure of what he was saying. But also not sure if it was wise to even be listening to what he was saying. Something in the back of her mind told her she should just kill him. That a dangerous creature like him shouldn't be allowed to roam free.
"What?"
"Do not act coy. It would take a miko to keep me from sensing her."
She did drop her bow at that, but not completely. The head of her arrow pointed at the ground. "What are you talking about?"
He glared at her, said nothing.
She huffed, he was just so stubborn. And her own stubborn nature did not like it.
Something to do with a miko and a girl. It couldn't possibly be Kikyou, could it? No. No, she wouldn't mess her hands up in a situation like this. Not one that, to her knowledge, didn't involve Inuyasha, Naraku, or the Shikon no Tama.
"Listen here," she snapped, "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know anything about a girl, and I'm certainly not keeping you from sensing her!" With that she raised her bow back up.
"You are just a bitch, and thus, beneath my notice. Where is your master, girl?"
Now, she was angry. "I am so NOT going to gift that with the answer it deserves. I do not take orders from Inuyasha! And for your information, buddy, HE'S NOT EVEN HERE!" Deep breaths, deep breaths...Kagome's famous temper was trying to wrestle free of her control. But being blinded by emotion was not the best way to face something like Sesshoumaru. She slowly began to cool down. She glared at the dog.
"The youkai has been wounded," some distant voice cried.
Kagome glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. A band of older men began to gather, weapons gripped tightly in their hands. They looked battered, but still effective. Of all the times to choose to fight back!
She looked at Sesshoumaru, fully expecting him to disappear as the villagers marched resolutely towards him. He stood quietly by and watched them come.
What is wrong with him?! Then it hit her. My magic isn't just blocking his attacks, but all his youkai powers. He can't run or fly. He...can't do anything...
The mob was getting closer, their shouts growing in confidence as more joined them and the youkai in question did not instantly move to strike them down.
No fear, she thought, looking at him. He won't even run. His pride won't let him. She was reminded of what her mind had whispered at her when she first saw him, that something wasn't right.
Damn it! There's no time to sort out this mess!
I've gotta trust my instincts.
Throwing down her arrow, she slung her bow back over her shoulder and trotted towards the youkai lord.
"Kirara," she called back to the cat-demon, "Stall the villagers for me, please!"
Kirara tilted her head in confusion, but did not hesitate. She launched into the air and dove at the villagers like a bird of prey, immediately swinging their attention to her.
Kagome reached Sesshoumaru's side and he glared at her wearily.
"You die, too." He swiped at her with his claws, but there was no time. She ducked under the human-slow attack and grabbed her arrow, jerking it free in a spray of blood. It splattered her face with tiny red dots, but she didn't care. Clutching the arrow to her chest, she backed away from the suddenly free Sesshoumaru.
Now it was time to see if her compassion was going to get her killed.
TBC...
So, how did everybody like Sesshoumaru's introduction into the story? Was he in character? Was Kagome? It's hard to write Sesshoumaru and not have him go OOC at some point, but I'm trying to avoid that as much as possible. I guess that's the important thing!
Oh, just to let you know where we stand in the course of this fic...this isn't even the half-way point yet. Is that good or bad? ^_^