Okay. Last chapter time. There WILL be an epilogue, so forgive me if it's a bit abrupt... and also if it leaves some things open. I like open-ended stories.
I'll miss Possession a lot. ._. But I'm so stressed with all these projects I've started, I need to finish a couple of them. And really, there's only so far I could drag this out. Maybe I'll do something with it again, someday.
Look for the epilogue... soon...ish? I know, I suck at writing quickly lately. Sorry. And thanks for your patience.
Beta props for this go to Kat, Colin, tdei, and Cate. You guys are the bestest. And thanks to everyone who's supported, reviewed, beta-ed, and read throughout the life of this fic. You all are my heros!
--==--
Kagome tied the bandage off gently, then sighed. "That should be good for now." She frowned. "Do youkai get infections? I could get some antibacterial cream..."
"Feh." Inuyasha snorted. "That's enough fussing, woman."
"Inuyasha." Kagome's voice was dangerous and her eyes narrowed as she looked at the hanyou.
"What?" He glared at her for a second, then folded his arms irritably, and settled for glaring at the sky.
Sesshomaru looked down at the bandaged stump, studying it. He had to admit to himself that the human wench had done a passably good job on stopping the bleeding and cleaning the wound, he would probably have just rinsed it in a river. This would almost certainly make it easier to attach another prosthetic.
He stood up slowly, a touch awkwardly. He hadn't adjusted to his change in balance, and wouldn't have to if he found a new arm soon.
"Where do you think you're going?" Kagome looked at him, hands on her hips. "You should be resting."
"No, he should be going." Inuyasha glared over at his brother.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow slightly, but nodded. "Yes."
"I don't care. I don't want you bleeding to death out in the forest."
The crease in Inuyasha's forehead got deeper as he turned to the girl. "Kagome, since WHEN do we care what happens to my brother? Did you -forget- how he tries to kill us every chance he gets?"
"Did -you- forget how he helped save your life?"
Sesshomaru winced. Their voices were getting shriller, and they were exchanging furious glares, not paying attention to anyone but each other.
"Oh, like he really did that all for me-"
"Does it -matter- why he did it?"
Sesshomaru sighed and slid past them, deeper into the forest, where he couldn't hear them fighting anymore. He was still dizzy and sick-feeling from his wound, and his head ached. He needed to rest a little.
Soon, he would have to search for a new arm, and then he would have to go back to his home. He had left Rin alone with Jaken far too long. He shuddered to think of what type of trouble she could have managed to get into already. Jaken made a terrible babysitter. Miroku was much better at it.
He stopped short. The monk. When exactly had he last seen him? As they were leaving Kageki's castle? After they had made camp? A small frown wrinkled his forehead, and he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
The familiar smell of the human reassured him. He was close by. Probably just gathering firewood. Good... it would be terribly inconvenient to try and chase down his captive today.
He sat down to lean against a tree, suddenly very tired. Damned Inuyasha, forever waving that damned sword around. He closed his eyes. Unmannered, disrespectful cur...
Sesshomaru's ears pricked slightly, and he caught a murmur of sound, getting louder. "...pulling Jaken's ears."
"But uncle M'rokuuu..." The whine was utterly familiar, and he opened his eyes.
"Now, Rin, what would Shou-sama think if he saw you abusing his servant like that?"
The piercing shriek and string of curses that followed could only have come from said servant.
"Rin, stop. Now. Or I'll have to carry you the rest of the way and you won't be able to play for the rest of the day." Miroku's voice was firm but patient.
"Who'll play with Rin anyway? Where are we going uncle Miroku?"
Sesshomaru searched the woods, looking for movement in the direction he heard the voices from. Finally, a hint of scarlet broke through the trees, and Miroku came into view.
"We're meeting some friends of mine."
"And will Sesshomaru-sama be there?"
"Of course." A slight pause, and Miroku's eyebrows drew together. He could hear the monk grumble under his breath "If he didn't run off like an idiot already."
Sesshomaru clenched his teeth on his irritation. "I'm here. And I assure you I am not an idiot."
Miroku started, eyes searching for him. Rin, however shrieked and broke away, running straight to fling herself at Sesshomaru. He winced slightly, and raised his hand to her back.
"Rin missed Sesshomaru-sama!" She burrowed her face into his shoulder, and he let out a long-suffering sigh, but he couldn't help feeling just the slightest bit warmed by her words. He looked up at Miroku, who was smiling faintly as he approached.
"You went all the way back to the castle?"
He shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It's fairly close."
Sesshomaru frowned to himself. Granted, he had been a touch disoriented, but it couldn't be that close. Could it?
He pushed Rin away gently, and she reached up to push her hair back. Wilted flowers hung from the tangled mess, and she had mud smeared on her cheek. And half her clothes. Sesshomaru winced, then glared at his servant. "Jaken. See to it that Rin gets herself cleaned up."
Rin screwed up her face, wavering between whining and obeying Sesshomaru. Jaken bowed quickly, and with some difficulty pulled her away by her kimono sleeve.
Miroku sighed, and sank to his knees at Sesshomaru's side, inspecting Kagome's bandaging job and nodding to himself slightly, brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, forcefully, the youkai remembered when he first noticed the monk.
"She did well." The soft words startled Sesshomaru, as the human raised his eyes to look at him. "I'm glad."
Miroku's gaze was intense, concerned, and layered with so many emotions that Sesshomaru looked away for a moment. "Why did you bring them?"
He chuckled, leaning back against the tree next to Sesshomaru. "Well, I didn't want Rin-chan to be all alone with only that toad for company."
"Jaken isn't a toad. And we would have been back soon."
Miroku shrugged. "I know... but still, you have to find a new arm and..." He trailed off, sighing slightly and shifting.
"What?"
Miroku shook his head, and Sesshomaru pressed his lips together in irritation. "Miroku..." The damned priest was always trying to hide his true motives.
He sighed, looking somehow guilty. "It's Naraku." His eyes were dark, troubled. "Even if the curse of the air void has been taken from me... even if I have no children... even so, he should not be allowed to exist."
Sesshomaru paused, considering his words carefully. "So... you were hoping that I'd... what? Join up with my brother and his woman to destroy him?"
Miroku blushed slightly, and carefully avoided looking at the youkai, who was blinking at him slightly. "I... don't know. I guess so. I mean, you did essentially the same with Kageki, and Naraku is certainly more of a threat to you and..." he trailed off softly.
"I did not team up with them. I allowed them to tag along." Sesshomaru's words were cold, clipped and slightly offended, making the priest wince. "But you're right. I suppose we'll have to help kill him, since I'm sure my idiot brother will never manage it by himself."
Miroku's head snapped towards Sesshomaru, and the youkai had to suppress a bit of a laugh. He looked completely, utterly shocked. But then, he was a bit surprised himself.
"You..." Miroku's mouth hung on the words, not even daring to give them voice. Sesshomaru leaned in, taking advantage and kissing the priest. Hands rose slowly, to sink into his hair.
Finally, he pulled back. "Of course, you know what this means."
Miroku shook his head, soundlessly.
Sesshomaru sniffed slightly. "We're going to have to teach my bastard of a brother some manners."
The confusion dissolved, broke, and Miroku was laughing, a breathless chuckle. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us."
I'll miss Possession a lot. ._. But I'm so stressed with all these projects I've started, I need to finish a couple of them. And really, there's only so far I could drag this out. Maybe I'll do something with it again, someday.
Look for the epilogue... soon...ish? I know, I suck at writing quickly lately. Sorry. And thanks for your patience.
Beta props for this go to Kat, Colin, tdei, and Cate. You guys are the bestest. And thanks to everyone who's supported, reviewed, beta-ed, and read throughout the life of this fic. You all are my heros!
--==--
Kagome tied the bandage off gently, then sighed. "That should be good for now." She frowned. "Do youkai get infections? I could get some antibacterial cream..."
"Feh." Inuyasha snorted. "That's enough fussing, woman."
"Inuyasha." Kagome's voice was dangerous and her eyes narrowed as she looked at the hanyou.
"What?" He glared at her for a second, then folded his arms irritably, and settled for glaring at the sky.
Sesshomaru looked down at the bandaged stump, studying it. He had to admit to himself that the human wench had done a passably good job on stopping the bleeding and cleaning the wound, he would probably have just rinsed it in a river. This would almost certainly make it easier to attach another prosthetic.
He stood up slowly, a touch awkwardly. He hadn't adjusted to his change in balance, and wouldn't have to if he found a new arm soon.
"Where do you think you're going?" Kagome looked at him, hands on her hips. "You should be resting."
"No, he should be going." Inuyasha glared over at his brother.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow slightly, but nodded. "Yes."
"I don't care. I don't want you bleeding to death out in the forest."
The crease in Inuyasha's forehead got deeper as he turned to the girl. "Kagome, since WHEN do we care what happens to my brother? Did you -forget- how he tries to kill us every chance he gets?"
"Did -you- forget how he helped save your life?"
Sesshomaru winced. Their voices were getting shriller, and they were exchanging furious glares, not paying attention to anyone but each other.
"Oh, like he really did that all for me-"
"Does it -matter- why he did it?"
Sesshomaru sighed and slid past them, deeper into the forest, where he couldn't hear them fighting anymore. He was still dizzy and sick-feeling from his wound, and his head ached. He needed to rest a little.
Soon, he would have to search for a new arm, and then he would have to go back to his home. He had left Rin alone with Jaken far too long. He shuddered to think of what type of trouble she could have managed to get into already. Jaken made a terrible babysitter. Miroku was much better at it.
He stopped short. The monk. When exactly had he last seen him? As they were leaving Kageki's castle? After they had made camp? A small frown wrinkled his forehead, and he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
The familiar smell of the human reassured him. He was close by. Probably just gathering firewood. Good... it would be terribly inconvenient to try and chase down his captive today.
He sat down to lean against a tree, suddenly very tired. Damned Inuyasha, forever waving that damned sword around. He closed his eyes. Unmannered, disrespectful cur...
Sesshomaru's ears pricked slightly, and he caught a murmur of sound, getting louder. "...pulling Jaken's ears."
"But uncle M'rokuuu..." The whine was utterly familiar, and he opened his eyes.
"Now, Rin, what would Shou-sama think if he saw you abusing his servant like that?"
The piercing shriek and string of curses that followed could only have come from said servant.
"Rin, stop. Now. Or I'll have to carry you the rest of the way and you won't be able to play for the rest of the day." Miroku's voice was firm but patient.
"Who'll play with Rin anyway? Where are we going uncle Miroku?"
Sesshomaru searched the woods, looking for movement in the direction he heard the voices from. Finally, a hint of scarlet broke through the trees, and Miroku came into view.
"We're meeting some friends of mine."
"And will Sesshomaru-sama be there?"
"Of course." A slight pause, and Miroku's eyebrows drew together. He could hear the monk grumble under his breath "If he didn't run off like an idiot already."
Sesshomaru clenched his teeth on his irritation. "I'm here. And I assure you I am not an idiot."
Miroku started, eyes searching for him. Rin, however shrieked and broke away, running straight to fling herself at Sesshomaru. He winced slightly, and raised his hand to her back.
"Rin missed Sesshomaru-sama!" She burrowed her face into his shoulder, and he let out a long-suffering sigh, but he couldn't help feeling just the slightest bit warmed by her words. He looked up at Miroku, who was smiling faintly as he approached.
"You went all the way back to the castle?"
He shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It's fairly close."
Sesshomaru frowned to himself. Granted, he had been a touch disoriented, but it couldn't be that close. Could it?
He pushed Rin away gently, and she reached up to push her hair back. Wilted flowers hung from the tangled mess, and she had mud smeared on her cheek. And half her clothes. Sesshomaru winced, then glared at his servant. "Jaken. See to it that Rin gets herself cleaned up."
Rin screwed up her face, wavering between whining and obeying Sesshomaru. Jaken bowed quickly, and with some difficulty pulled her away by her kimono sleeve.
Miroku sighed, and sank to his knees at Sesshomaru's side, inspecting Kagome's bandaging job and nodding to himself slightly, brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, forcefully, the youkai remembered when he first noticed the monk.
"She did well." The soft words startled Sesshomaru, as the human raised his eyes to look at him. "I'm glad."
Miroku's gaze was intense, concerned, and layered with so many emotions that Sesshomaru looked away for a moment. "Why did you bring them?"
He chuckled, leaning back against the tree next to Sesshomaru. "Well, I didn't want Rin-chan to be all alone with only that toad for company."
"Jaken isn't a toad. And we would have been back soon."
Miroku shrugged. "I know... but still, you have to find a new arm and..." He trailed off, sighing slightly and shifting.
"What?"
Miroku shook his head, and Sesshomaru pressed his lips together in irritation. "Miroku..." The damned priest was always trying to hide his true motives.
He sighed, looking somehow guilty. "It's Naraku." His eyes were dark, troubled. "Even if the curse of the air void has been taken from me... even if I have no children... even so, he should not be allowed to exist."
Sesshomaru paused, considering his words carefully. "So... you were hoping that I'd... what? Join up with my brother and his woman to destroy him?"
Miroku blushed slightly, and carefully avoided looking at the youkai, who was blinking at him slightly. "I... don't know. I guess so. I mean, you did essentially the same with Kageki, and Naraku is certainly more of a threat to you and..." he trailed off softly.
"I did not team up with them. I allowed them to tag along." Sesshomaru's words were cold, clipped and slightly offended, making the priest wince. "But you're right. I suppose we'll have to help kill him, since I'm sure my idiot brother will never manage it by himself."
Miroku's head snapped towards Sesshomaru, and the youkai had to suppress a bit of a laugh. He looked completely, utterly shocked. But then, he was a bit surprised himself.
"You..." Miroku's mouth hung on the words, not even daring to give them voice. Sesshomaru leaned in, taking advantage and kissing the priest. Hands rose slowly, to sink into his hair.
Finally, he pulled back. "Of course, you know what this means."
Miroku shook his head, soundlessly.
Sesshomaru sniffed slightly. "We're going to have to teach my bastard of a brother some manners."
The confusion dissolved, broke, and Miroku was laughing, a breathless chuckle. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us."