Author's Note: DUN DUN DUN!! I give you Chapter 9, In Which Sesshoumaru Shows up and Some of the Story is Revealed.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Tsuki and Hana. I guess I own their mother, too.
Kagome's Gone
by Maia Serrelinda
Chapter 9
Both Kagome and Inuyasha turned to face Tsuki. She was dressed in the black hakama and cream top Kagome had first seen her wearing, and she carried a sheathed katana at her side.
Kagome was instantly on edge and calmed herself with an effort, focusing on the feeling of the warm teacup in her hands. She remained seated where she was, knowing that this was Inuyasha's fight and he would not thank her for getting involved.
Inuyasha spared a glance at Kagome, ensuring that she was still seated out of harm's way. Satisfied, he placed a hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt and turned to face Tsuki. He stepped closer to her, into a small area lined in fine gravel. From her easy familiarity with the spot, it seemed as if Tsuki used this space for practice. Tsuki stood roughly in the center of the space, legs slightly apart in a battle-ready stance.
"Hanyou, are you prepared to answer for the crimes your family has committed against my family?" Tsuki asked coldly. I hope my voice didn't shake..
"Keh!" Inuyasha shot back. "Bring it on!" He drew Tetsusaiga and watched as it transformed.
Kagome, watching intently, could have sworn that Tsuki blanched at the sight. The two combatants faced off tensely.
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Sesshoumaru heard the exchange and looked on, interested. He was reasonably certain that he knew the identity of the female youkai that was facing off against his brother. He also had a pretty good idea what she thought had transpired all those years ago. The youkai opted to wait to see what happened before interrupting. This could prove to be quite amusing.
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Tsuki felt her face lose color as she watched Inuyasha's sword transform to its larger size. This was what she was up against? She took a deep breath and prepared to spring.
She drew her sword and leapt.
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Inuyasha watched the youkai facing him as she prepared to spring at him. Something was bothering him. Something just seemed....off, and it had to do with Tsuki herself. Instead of making a preemptive strike, he opted to wait to see what his opponent would do.
Suddenly, Tsuki hurled herself forward, holding her katana in front of her. She yelled, "Prepare yourself! HAH!!" and screwed her eyes firmly shut as she swung wildly at the hanyou.
Wait. Screwed her eyes shut? Inuyasha was so distracted that he completely forgot to block the wild blow. It struck him at the shoulder and glanced across his chest, opening a thin slice across the skin of his chest where the fire-rat haori was not protecting it. He blinked, surprised, but not really wounded. His opponent, however...
Tsuki was huddled on the ground just behind Inuyasha. She was doubled over and shaking. He could smell the perspiration that coated her face. What in the hell was going on here? He'd certainly not expected this.
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Tsuki meant to focus on keeping her eyes open as she attacked, but was so surprised that Inuyasha wasn't moving to attack her first that she forgot and scrunched her eyes closed, just like she usually did when she was younger and practicing with a partner. Oh, why did I think this would be any different?
She swung blindly in front of her, feeling the katana connect and dimly registering the impact and feeling herself break out into a cold sweat. She collapsed in a small, huddled heap on the ground behind the hanyou. Please, let there not be blood, please let there not be blood... she chanted mindlessly to herself. How in the hell could I have thought I could do this?
Tsuki rose to her feet, shaking, and faced Inuyasha. Her blow had cut his chest, and though it did not seem to bother the surprised-looking hanyou in the least, it was bleeding profusely. The youkai closed her eyes and felt her stomach churn. She spun on the balls of her feet and bolted for the bushes.
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Kagome watched with complete shock at the events unfolding before her eyes. This was what she had been so upset over? Tsuki looked as if she was trying her best not to hit Inuyasha. Kagome blinked as Tsuki took her one wild swing and then gasped as the swipe connected, wounding Inuyasha slightly. Her eyes flew to Inuyasha, who, instead of retaliating, just stood there, wide-eyed, with one eyebrow twitching slightly. Her teacup fell to the ground, completely forgotten.
Wide-eyed and silent, Kagome watched as Tsuki rose to her feet from her huddle on the ground and faced Inuyasha. Kagome's jaw dropped as the youkai turned positively green and raced for the bushes. Her mind having registered the small amount of blood from Inuyasha's wound, and knowing that it was an extremely minor injury for him, she ran after the youkai. Reaching Tsuki, the young miko gathered the youkai's hair at her neck with one hand and rubbed her back slowly with the other as the youkai heaved. She looked over the other woman's back at Inuyasha, who still stood there, slightly stunned.
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What the hell...?? Inuyasha heard the sounds of Tsuki's upset and turned. Kagome was trying to soothe the youkai who had been trying to kill him...or something just a few seconds ago. Kagome looked up at him and shrugged slightly. The hanyou shrugged in response and re-sheathed the Tetsusaiga. He waited.
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Sesshoumaru thought he was surely going to die. He couldn't believe what was happening. His idiot brother had gotten himself into some fairly bizarre situations, but this....this was absolutely classic. Inside his mind, he was laughing hysterically, practically rolling on the ground. On the outside, of course, he was as stoic and calm as ever. He decided that now would be a good time to set the record straight and end this farce. After all, this was a matter of his family's honor as well.
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Tsuki had stopped heaving and allowed Kagome to lead her shakily to the bench. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, not as a result of the abortive fight but from the frustration at her inability to deal calmly with the sight of blood. She realized now that this was probably part of the reason Hana had been so determined to avenge their mother while Tsuki was young - she never had been able to handle injuring another. When they practiced and Tsuki managed to land a blow, she would always burst into tears and apologize profusely to her opponent.
She shook her head in an attempt to settle herself. Kagome's arm was still around the youkai's shoulders, supporting her.
Inuyasha began to slowly walk towards her and Tsuki closed her eyes in resignation. Now he would probably kill her, and there really wasn't anything she could to do stop it.
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Sesshoumaru leapt effortlessly across the clearing, landing smoothly and gracefully a few feet away from the trio huddled near the bench. No one noticed him. His porcelain brow furrowed slightly and he smoothed it instantly by force of will. He cleared his throat slightly. Three heads instantly snapped in his direction.
"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha and Kagome said in unison. Tsuki merely groaned and covered her face with her hands. Her day had not started out well and did not look like it would get any better any time soon. She honestly could not think of anyone she wanted to see even less than she wanted to see the Lord of the Western Lands.
Sesshoumaru glared coldly at the trio. "What exactly is the purpose of this...duel?"
Tsuki knocked away Kagome's arm and stood angrily. "You know damned well what happened to my sister and my mother! Your father killed them both!"
Sesshoumaru's eyes glinted menacingly and both Kagome and Inuyasha closed their eyes in resignation.
"Foolish youkai, you know nothing," Sesshoumaru responded. "Your mother was killed out of jealousy, and certainly not by my lord father."
Tsuki's eyes flashed. "You lie!"
She's really sealed her own fate now, Inuyasha thought. His brother had never been known to be lenient, with the one exception being the little girl who adored him.
Sesshoumaru sighed wearily. "I will explain."
Tsuki roused herself from her fury and schooled her features into some semblance of calm. "Please, all of you. We will meet in the library shortly. Kagome, Inuyasha's wound should be tended. Sesshoumaru, I will show you to the library and then I would like to refresh myself. I look forward to hearing your explanation." She stalked off, Sesshoumaru trailing behind her. Sesshoumaru glanced back at Inuyasha and if he had not known better, Inuyasha could have sworn his brother was amused.
Kagome stood and took Inuyasha's hand. "Considering what just happened, I should probably bandage your wound, don't you think?" Inuyasha nodded and she pulled him towards her room.
She quickly rummaged in the dressing table, finding a stash of soft clean cloths. She quickly ripped a few of them into strips and led Inuyasha into the bathing chamber, where she quickly bathed the wound on his chest. Pushing the haori off of his shoulders and spreading the opening of his kimono, she bandaged the wound, even though the bleeding had mostly stopped. Satisfied with her work, she dropped a quick kiss on the bandage, earning a surprised sound from Inuyasha.
"What was that for?" he asked.
Kagome blushed. "When I was small, my mother would always kiss my hurts. It sounds ridiculous now, but it really seemed to take away the pain," she dropped her head and admitted, "I've always wanted to do that for you."
Inuyasha laughed lightly and, using two fingers to lift her chin, kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose. They smiled at each other and Inuyasha re-dressed himself. Joining hands, they made their way to the library.
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Sesshoumaru waited patiently in the library for the youkai and his idiot brother. He was surprised this little incident had gotten this far out of hand. He had a feeling that there would be a lof of misinformation to clear up.
Putting the matter aside for the moment, he reached out with his senses to check on Rin. She was still sleeping, but Jaken and Aun were awake. Good, this meant she would be reasonably safe, at least for the time being. He wondered briefly if he had time before the others returned to fetch Rin, and decided against it.
He heard footsteps approaching in the hallway and quickly deduced that it was the hanyou and his woman. Inuyasha slid the door aside and led the miko inside. Sesshoumaru was surprised to see that they were holding hands. Kagome saw the quick glance and blushed prettily. The youkai instantly cleared his face of all expression. Kagome rolled her eyes and followed Inuyasha to the large chaise she had been seated on when Tsuki had first told her the story. Inuyasha glanced at the chaise and then back at his brother, and adjusted the chaise's position so that it would be as far from his brother as the room could manage. The older youkai smirked.
"How could you have let yourself fall into this trap?" Sesshoumaru asked Inuyasha.
"It wasn't like that! She took Kagome and I had to go get her back!" Inuyasha retorted. Kagome looked a bit irritated at the cavalier dismissal of her abduction and opened her mouth to protest.
Sesshoumaru decided to take a calculated risk. "By the way, Inuyasha, may I say that the way you and your woman are dressed alike is.....cute."
Inuyasha and Kagome both flushed and began to sputter. Sesshoumaru was hard pressed to keep his laughter to himself. It was so much fun to rile Inuyasha!
The risk he'd taken paid off as Tsuki entered the room just as Inuyasha was about to jump up and start another battle, this time with his brother. Kagome and Inuyasha immediately quieted and everyone watched as Tsuki, dressed in fresh clothing, seated herself in her favorite chair.
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