Okay, had to repost this chapter when I looked it over. I mean, there was a lot of things that were unclear and a little shady. So…sorry about that. I hope this is better. And read and review and enjoy. Thanks for the good feedback so far.
-MC
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Sesshomaru, all appearances aside was a man of many talents. Excluding areas which he was known for, (his fighting skills and his legendary beauty and his daunting cold attitude) there were still holes in his personality that none were privy to except him. There, in the quite time of his study or perhaps in an uninterrupted training session in the dojo, Sesshomaru would find time to write. No, he did not write meaningless scruples in a journal and wonder about his feelings. He wrote about facts, about history, about tales of mystery and intrigue. He would take the little facts that people did know and create stories where the all the facts were known. In essence, he wrote historical fiction and he was damn good at it too.
Well, he hadn't actually gotten around to letting anyone read his work, but he figured that since he was writing it, it had to be good. Or something along those lines. But the point is, Sesshomaru wasn't everything that you saw on the surface. Which people rarely were, however Kagome was wrong in her accusations. Sesshomaru did have substance. He just didn't show it to anyone.
And as for Kagome, her substance was less contained. If one looked closely, or perhaps looked at all, they would find a cultured, intelligent woman who had courage and strength beyond reason and forbearance. However, in Sesshomaru's short stay with the shard hunters was exactly that; brief. Even to say that he traveled with the group was used in the loosest way possible. He camped alone, hiked alone and slept alone. Rin had more contact with the group than Sesshomaru ever did even in the fighting. So therefore, his assumptions, however wrong, were something he received from observation from afar. And not very acute observation at that.
However, like all people with or without substance, each Sesshomaru and Kagome had their intense differences and vices. These vices were, perhaps, fatal if ever a relationship was developed between the two. The first and foremost Sesshomaru supposedly hated humans and Kagome theoretically was supposed to destroy all evil youkai.
And this first and foremost problem was what the sword would work on first. Because there was always a reason. The sword created from an adulterant father's fang always had to have a reason to act. And this reason, to be divulged in due time, was definitely calling for action.
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Sometimes I want to run away, Kagome thought idly during a particular strenuous hiking session. It wasn't because of anything that Inuyasha did. It wasn't because she was predominantly angry with her lot in life. Just sometimes she thought that it would have all been easier if she never was captured and dragged into the past. Making that selfish wish would have never happened either, resulting in Kagome having to choose the past or the future. It wasn't really a choice either because choosing the past meant that she would inevitably find herself in the future and all she had to do was wait. But waiting alone wasn't exactly something she was looking forward to. For like Sesshomaru Kagome was beginning to receive that telltale subtle yearning to find the person who would inevitably be her mate. With Inuyasha permanently out of the picture and anyone from the future would mean inevitable disaster Kagome had little choice. Basically this brought her search for a mate to one type of species. Youkai. Since they were immortal as well they were the only sensible conclusion to her predicament. And Kagome's closest youkai companion was Shippou. This was a dead end since he is her son after all. There was Sess—
"Kagome, watch where you are going!" Shippou's paw rested on her leg which was currently standing on a cloud outrageously like a certain taiyoukai's. "Hey! I didn't know you could be on a cloud like frostbite!" (It was something Shippou had taken to call the disgruntled youkai in jest but happened to stick) Kagome giggled a little at the nickname and the reminder of the pink cloud. Honestly, it got her every time.
"Yeah, neither did I Shippou, but I guess it's just another part of my power coming out. I still don't know even half of what I can do." Kagome ruffled his hair motherly but stopped at the look on Inuyasha's face. "Whats wrong Inu?"
"Kagome, I would put your aura away."
"What?"
"I said put it away!" But it was too late. Before Kagome could even speak again, she was wrapped tightly into the arms of the man who owned the infamous hovering pink cloud. He held her close and her head peaked over his shoulder, a confused expression gracing her features. "I told you to put it away…" Inuyasha answered. Like THAT answered her questions. A sudden sharp jolt in her stomach area made her release a yelp of pain. But she kept quiet. Sesshomaru still held her in his arms and he seemed to be having a staring contest with Inuyasha. Low, guttural dog growls she supposed were being passed between them as if it was some sort of language. In this sense, they did almost seem like family. As Sesshomaru shifted again, the Tensaiga dug into her rib cage. Although their little "reunion" was interesting, Kagome was kind of upset at being left in the dark. Okay, perhaps a "little" upset was quite an understatement.
"OW! Will SOMEONE tell me what is going on here, or do I have to be permanently encased in Sesshomaru's arms?"
"You did not tell the wench?" Sesshomaru growled from his now semi-recumbent position on the floor after Kagome unceremoniously shoved him from his hold on her. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had a semi-nod between brothers and it looked as if they had agreed on something for a moment. Which Kagome didn't like.
"What is going on?" Kagome yelled, thoroughly pissed off. There is something they aren't telling me…
"Well, you see—"
"Hany-brother, let me handle this. It is the swords. They are drawn to you. For some inexplicable reason you are connected in the fate of the swords and there is nothing we can do about it. I'm sure Inuyasha felt it yesterday when—"
"You mean Inuyasha knew about this? Is this true?" The latter phrase was said in perfect monotone that displayed the obvious calm before the storm. Even Sesshomaru was slightly intimidated. SLIGHTLY is the key word. Okay, it was more like a mild itch. Or perhaps a mild tickle. Okay, perhaps it didn't really bother him much at all but still, she was slightly scary. SLIGHTLY is the key word. Okay, it was more like a—we are not doing this again.
"It is true, I did feel the pull of the sword when you displayed your power, but it wasn't as powerful as to draw me to you from what, A HUNDRED MILES AWAY, RIGHT, SESSHOMARU?"
"A hundred miles away? Pull? Swords? Power? Whaaaaaaaaaaat?" Yes, my friends, it had happened. Kagome had received intense information overload. And now, and now she was dealing with the consequences. In Inuyasha's arms.
"Kagome, this is as much as I can tell on my own. Ever since the jewel was merged within your body, it somehow became stronger than it ever was before. And ever since you started to use more of your power, my sword became more and more drawn to you. But it certainly doesn't make me come from a hundred miles away…" Inuyasha had another impromptu glance at Sesshomaru who by now was hovering by a tree and leaning his back against it in a somewhat alluring manner. Well, that was what Kagome thought but she disregarded the idea and blamed it on her complete and utter confusion.
"But, I don't get it. Why didn't you tell me your brother's sword would act the same? And why does HIS sword seem to be drawn more powerfully to my power than yours?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?" Inuyasha, in Kagome's opinion, was getting a little too huffy.
"Sesshomaru…?" The taiyoukai looked over at Kagome with his usual stoic expression. He hadn't been pondering these questions. Instead, he was imagining that his next hero of his historical fiction novel was going to be a heroine. A heroine that resembled Kagome. In fact, if you wanted to get completely technical, which Sesshomaru was trying to avoid more and more these days, the heroine was Kagome. She would make the perfect person to write about. She displayed the correct characteristics and vices. And if Sesshomaru was good at anything he was good at reading people. And now that he tried to read Kagome he discovered that what he first assumed about her lack of substance was untrue. And so, he stopped reading. And stopped writing her into his next novel.
"This Sesshomaru believes that Tensaiga is more connected to the jewel because it is now a jewel that saves and protects, just like the Tensaiga. The Tetsaiga seems to have already drawn use from you, for you were the one to pull it from my father's tomb. Also, the hanyou seems to draw more power from the sword when you are near. So it is obvious that you must be connected to both swords since they both come from our father. I always believed that I was not Tensaiga's true master. Perhaps it is drawn to you because you are the true master of the Tensaiga."
Sesshomaru didn't like revealing his thoughts but if she was the Tensaiga's true master, which he highly doubted, then this whole fiasco would be over. And he would rid himself of a worthless sword that only seemed to bring on human emotions that a Taiyoukai as himself had no need for. But, he felt if he voiced things that the wench would be easier to handle in the long run. He may not know everything about women, human women especially, but he knew that every woman loved it when they were included in the conversation and spoken as if their opinion mattered. Which, it didn't. But he was having a grand old time convincing Kagome of this. And his brother's look of mounting horror at his sudden verbal diarrhea (not a pleasant analogy, now that he thought about it) was well worth also. Sesshomaru presented Kagome with his father's lesser fang. She hesitantly took it from him, but just as her hands gripped the handle, she was repelled and landed with a sickening crack against the tree that Sesshomaru had previously leaned upon.
"What are you trying to do to her, kill her?" Inuyasha yelled as he ran to Kagome's aid. "Kagome, Kagome, are you alright? Are you okay?" Her eyes fluttered open and with her reassured recovery the Tetsaiga was drawn, the fang revealed. "Be prepared to face my wrath, you bastard!"
"No! Stop. It wasn't him. It was Tensaiga. It will not have another master. It is yours, Sesshomaru. And yours only." Inuyasha was still not convinced but went back to Kagome's side. Shippou, who had been hiding in the trees since the moment Sesshomaru appeared decided to make an appearance.
"But Kagome-Momma, why did Tensaiga hurt you?"
"Kit, it was most likely because I was rescinding my right over the sword to her. This is much more than simply giving the sword to her. I had to speak a chant as well before it could truly be given up. But obviously even that could not work."
"So let me get this straight," Kagome said, sitting up. "The Tensaiga AND Tetsaiga are drawn to my power because of the jewel. But the Tensaiga is more affected than the Tetsaiga is. But this only happens when I actually use my power for something. So, does this mean that whenever I use my power…you'll have to come to me?" Kagome was looking at Sesshomaru with her blue-grey eyes in curiosity.
Do I have to come every time? Would this really pull me towards her? There has to be a cure. There has to be something that can be done. I cannot be taken away from everything at the moment her power calls to my sword. I CANNOT! "Certainly this is not the case."
Now this was the Sesshomaru we all know and love, Kagome thought blandly. I was a little afraid we had lost him to this talkative man who wanted to explain everything. There still has to be something else that we are missing…
I do not want to cater to some female's power! As tempting as she is, there is nothing that would give me the desire to be attached to any woman in such a manner. It is as if we are connected as mates without the perks of being connected in such a manner. I am to be called every time she uses her power! And since I felt the need to embrace her this first time, will I ever cross the line and do more? Sesshomaru, to say the least, was a little upset.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, was enjoying these internal battles that were going on in Kagome and Sesshomaru. Although he had no love lost between his brother and he, there was still a familial bond that would never go away, even after all the times he had attempted to kill him. On some deeper level, Inuyasha was happy that Sesshomaru could be controlled by a woman just like any other man could. Even if he was controlled by a woman through a sword, it made it still as delightful. Now he thought this could only do Sesshomaru good. Teach him a little understanding and acceptance. On Kagome's part, he worried about her sanity. For no one could handle that much of Sesshomaru at one time. He guessed she would just have to try and lessen the use of her power.
