(AN) Me again. ^_^ This is one of those odd chapters that I like, and don't like. I've had it done for awhile, but sat on it because I felt like I could expand it. However, every time I added to it I ended up deleting the addition because it didn't fit with the voice of the chapter, or felt, to me, like I was stretching it out too much. So here it is, in its original form...mainly because all my attempts at improving it seemed to only make it worse. :-( Still, I like this chapter.
Juxtaposition
Chapter Ten:
Through Me
"It's...it's not dawn," Kagome whispered, all her words and plans falling into chaos.
Sesshoumaru did not look at her, but glared at the miko whose bow was slowly inching towards his direction. "You broke her warding. That was all I required of you."
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin immediately pushed away from Kagome's side to run to Sesshoumaru, but he held up one hand and halted her in her steps.
"Stay with the miko, Rin."
Kagome moved briskly to put herself physically between Rin and Nukata, backing them both against the wall of the hut. It was as much cover as they were going to get if a fight did break out. And break out it did, though not from either side expected. Arrows flew from the dark cover of trees, dozens of them. Kagome shoved Rin flat on the ground and threw her own body over her, creating a protective wall of flesh.
Sesshoumaru launched into the air, leaving the arrows to pass harmlessly under him. Villagers poured from the trees, pulling back their bows. The sky filled with a wave of arrows, the sight oddly resembling a flock of crows. Kagome could no longer see Sesshoumaru, but a spot of something pale suddenly flickered behind the villagers, then disappeared. He reappeared before Nukata, bringing his hand down in one swift slash.
Nukata stared at him with wide, terrified eyes, then blinked. A slow, mocking smile came to her lips.
The youkai lord looked down at his hand as smoke curled up from it. The tips of his fingers were badly burned, the skin blistered and peeling.
Another barrier?! He can't strike her! Kagome picked up Rin and pushed her through the open screen beside them. "Stay here!" She said, not stopping to soften the severity of the new situation from her voice.
She turned back to the battle but didn't know where to begin. Sesshoumaru was on the move again, effortlessly avoiding arrows while still persisting in his attack against the miko. Nukata, safe behind her barrier, was carefully aiming at him, but none of her arrows were coming close to their target. Kagome knew that if she just waited, eventually Nukata would run out of arrows, and then the strength to keep her constant barrier up. But that would take time. There was something Kagome could do now, if she could just get close enough to do it.
As if hearing her thoughts, Kirara dropped out of the sky in fierce battle-form, roaring a warning. She swiped at the bow-wielding villagers, actually frightening some into throwing down their bows and fleeing. The rest fumbled with arrows to replace the ones they had dropped or misfired when the beast appeared.
Nukata was intently scanning the area around her for any tell-tale flicker, but apparently she was not completely deadened to the plight of the people she was called to protect. Seeing they could not possibly defend themselves against two powerful youkai, she lowered her bow for one moment and yelled a hasty retreat.
Kagome watched her, an empty hope in her heart, but the girl did not go herself, brought her bow back up after a moment and sighted along its point. She fired. The feathered shaft struck a tree and splintered it, vibrating from the force and casting off small sparks of light. It was clear to Kagome that the miko meant to kill the 'beast' or die on his claws. Nothing else would satisfy her.
Kagome was glad that the villagers would be leaving the fight, for in truth it wasn't theirs to begin with. But it still left Nukata to fuel the deadlocked battle onward. Her barrier shimmered again as Sesshoumaru struck it, but did not weaken. It was only a matter of time.
Now. She needed to act now.
"Kirara!" Kagome screamed, running towards the cat. Kirara abandoned her 'assault' on the few remaining villagers and changed direction, swooping low to the ground. Kagome grabbed a handful of yellow fur and pulled herself onto the youkai's back, fighting the resisting layers of her kimono as she did so. A flash in the trees to their left let her know that Sesshoumaru was following.
He knows what I'm going to do. If I can take down Nukata's barrier we can end this.
Not thinking twice about her actions or the danger she was putting herself in, Kagome urged Kirara forward. They dived, picking up speed in their descent. The dark trees streaked together into one swirling shadow, sound rose against her ears in a rushing roar. She flew right through the barrier, hearing it metaphysically shatter around her like brittle glass.
She didn't wait for Sesshoumaru. She pushed off of Kirara and tackled Nukata to the ground, knocking her bow away and her breath from her body in the process.
Nukata struggled, clawing at Kagome's hands and screaming, but Kagome held on. Slowly the blue-eyed girl's struggles began to calm, her rage-filled screams dying down to angry pants. She went still beneath Kagome and glared up, tears starting to pour from her eyes.
Pressing the miko's wrists harder into the ground, Kagome blinked. She's crying...?
There was no time to think about this new development, Kagome felt a chill and knew that Sesshoumaru was standing over her. She didn't hesitate, without looking up from the girl beneath her, Kagome said, "Rin is in the hut. You have what you want."
"Move."
"Go through me." She replied just as quickly.
"I will not give up my prey."
"She," Kagome hissed, "is my prey! She became mine when she imprisoned me! I say again, if you want her, you have to go through me!"
Kagome waited for the attack to come, fully believing that Sesshoumaru had lost his patience and would take offense to her words. But there was silence this time, punctured only by Nukata's quiet sobs. Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru to see him half-turned, staring out into the trees that crept near the hut and its small clearing.
"Do what you want," he said, losing all semblance of interest. He turned fully, his walk slow and unhurried as he moved toward the forest. Kagome watched him go, mildly shocked that he hadn't ripped her apart with the miko that had angered him so.
"Why?" Nukata croaked, bringing Kagome's attention back down to her. "Why did you protect me? I hurt you."
Kagome let her hands slide away from the miko's, instantly sorry she had gripped them so hard. "If someone dies, let it be for more than ignorance."
Confusion shined out of Nukata's tear-stained eyes.
Kagome shook her head, climbing to her feet. She reached down and gently helped Nukata up, keeping hold of her hand as if the small touch could help to push her point across. "It's good to think all youkai are evil, because most of them are. But you should also remember that what is true for most, is not true for all."
"Rin."
Hearing her name, the little girl cautiously glanced through the open screen, her face lighting up into a beautiful smile. Both Kagome and Nukata watched as she ran to Sesshoumaru and threw her little arms around his legs. Nukata's hand tensed in Kagome's and she took one step toward the pair, but Kagome held her back.
"But he's..." Nukata trailed off into a gasp as Sesshoumaru's clawed hand fell on the little girl's head. He stroked his fingers through her dark hair once, then looked up, his eyes coming to a rest on Kagome. His hand dropped, he turned and walked away, Rin following close behind.
Kagome smiled, she couldn't seem to help herself. She squeezed Nukata's hand, then released it. "Sayonara, miko-sama."
Stopping only once, to settle her bow and arrows in their rightful place, Kagome followed Sesshoumaru and Rin.
TBC...
Is the conflict with Nukata truly over? I know the answer, because unlike some of my other stories, I have this one pretty much plotted. But I still won't say! :-D Where would the fun be in that?
Yes, Sesshoumaru gave in to Kagome. Why? I'm actually basing this on his personality in the show. Some people take his personality too far when it comes to cruelty and coldness, they make him very petty. But Sesshoumaru isn't cruel because he enjoys it, but because he thinks the situation calls for it. In the sense of 'hunting' that he seems to have, Kagome is right, her grievance does come before his. But it's not just that...Sesshoumaru appears to know when it's best for him to stop. There have been times in the series he could have pressed an issue on, but instead chose to let it go. He's arrogant, but his arrogance does not rule over his logic. Not to mention he *does* have a sense of honour, though it may be a little unconventional. Kagome has 'helped' him twice now, all on her own compassion (though we know the second time her compassion was running more towards the villagers than him)...That would bear on his mind, negatively or positively. Soon to be explored... ^_^
And why am I bothering to explain all this outside of the story? Because I did work this into the story, but I wasn't sure how obvious it was. I've found out recently that I am *really* good at subtly, and there have been a few people that have expressed to me that a good story should be completely open and all the plot lines laid out obviously. I don't really like that myself. I fill my stories with personal images, metaphors, and foreshadowing. Not to trick people, but because I think it adds richness and, well, a touch that is just me. So, I wanted to point all this out because it's important to the story, but I wasn't sure if I was being too subtle.
This fic generally comes from Kagome's perspective, so I can't go too far into Sesshoumaru's psyche to explain his reasons why. In fact, in this tale I mean only to show Sesshoumaru through use of his own actions and Kagome's opinions/reactions. With his personality, all significant changes within his character will likely only show through subtle, maybe minute deviations. Nothing outrageous or fast, though if you haven't been paying attention to him you might think so! ^_^
Now that I've bored people to tears with another one of my extremely long Author Notes...
ICE: Next chapter is still not ready. I still haven't felt up to writing on it, but have done a little. I don't know when the next part will be out, but I'm working on it. ^_^
EOME: On hold, for now, as I work not only through some personal feelings but how exactly I'm going to work out the next development in the story. Unfortunately, this story doesn't seem to be happy as the 'lemon' I shelved it under. It keeps trying to evolve into a full-blown fic. In that case, I need some time to think---am I going to stick with my original plans, or go in this new direction. I don't know yet.
Juxtaposition: Most of the next chapter is done. All things as planned, I'll be posting it in about a week or so. I think this is the only fic I'm not having a major issue with right now! I guess extensive planning counts for something! ^_^
At this time I've been working on a host of smaller fics. A few set in Inuyasha, a few not. Most of them are older pieces/ideas that I never finished. Only time will tell if I actually get any of them presentable, but we'll see! ^.~
As for the website, I'm still not sure if I'm going to pursue it or not. I understand that someone reviewed and said one was already in operation. It was a nice site, but I think our ideas are different enough that I could still go ahead with a site of my own. Not to mention I would welcome all alternative pairings, including yaoi/yuri ones, while that site does not. It's their personal preference and I respect that. But my site, if I chose to do it, would welcome all non-traditional pairings. ^_^ Right now it's just a matter of time and money. So all possibilities are still on the table.
In fact, I've already gone ahead and put together a layout on paper...just in case. And because I was inspired to do it one morning. I will say it would be rather simple in design, mainly because that is what I like. Not a lot of clutter, user-friendly, easy to understand. The exact opposite of my fics, eh? ;-D The rules I follow in website-creating are appearance vs. function, loading time, and simplicity. There won't be ten-thousands of frames, and in fact I'm considering bypassing frames completely. I considered php, too, but have tossed that idea as well. But this is all moot if I decide not to! :-) So, I'll just keep thinking on it and let you know what I decide.
Thanks! For all the wonderful reviews, and for reading! I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations, or at least entertains! ^_^ Thanks.