AN: Well, contrary to most opinions out there, I'm not of the same mind
that the furry thing wrapped around Sesshoumaru is a tail. Mainly because
I have a hard time picturing a long, furry thing extending from his butt
when I imagine him naked. LOL But I admit that a tail is one theory; I've
got a few different theories on what it is. One of them will be revealed
in this fic but not until the next chapter so you're just going to have to
wait until then. =P
In the meantime, enjoy!
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CHAPTER 3: Mystery Upon Mystery
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It was completely dark.
Still, even though she couldn't see anything as the velvet black of darkness enveloped her, she continued to walk and walk, filled with an odd certainty that there was something up ahead, someplace where she desperately needed to go. She didn't know what and she didn't know how or why she knew this but she felt strongly that there was something she was supposed to head towards and, never once questioning it or the strangeness of the situation, she went. She kept moving in the direction her instincts pulled her to, as if some unseen force was guiding her and showing her the path to take in this darkness where sight seemed absolutely meaningless.
A glimmering caught her eyes and she quickened her pace, eager to reach it and discover what it was that was calling her. But her steps slowed the closer she got as she puzzled over the odd sight, wondering how such a thing could be.
It was a wall of water.
Curious, she reached out to touch the shimmering surface, rippling with glimmers of light that come from an undetermined source, but her hand was stopped by some sort of barrier that prevented her from coming into contact with it. It was strange and she pressed her face closer, wondering if she could catch a glimpse of whatever lay beyond that watery surface.
Then she gasped, jerking back in surprise when something behind that wall of water moved, a shadowy figure that she couldn't make out as it was obscured by the rippling motions of liquid that flowed across the surface. Though she could make out no details, she was sure that whoever or whatever it may be was watching her and the knowledge sent a cold chill down her spine.
The figure gestured and, with a small shriek, she suddenly found herself surrounded as the wall of water whooshed outwards and around her, engulfing her in its grasp.
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Kagome's eyes flew as she sat up with a gasp, stifling the shriek that built up in her throat, pulse pounding and body shivering with remembered fright. Everything was dark and, for a second she thought she was still in that other place. But then the crackling of fire penetrated her senses and, slowly, her agitation settled until she could think more normally again.
It was only a dream.
She had no idea what it had been about or if there was any meaning to it at all but it certainly had been odd. As the memories of it became more vague, slipping away as she became more conscious, she finally chalked it up as a reaction to the stressful events she'd been though recently. After all, just thinking about all that had happened in just a short amount of time was exhausting enough, not to mention the upheaval the recent turn of events was going to wreak with her life.
She sighed heavily, feeling drained and not very rested at all, realizing she must have drifted off to sleep after her mystery rescuer had left, hopefully to tell Inuyasha that she was fine, just as she had requested. It made her wonder how many hours passed since she'd been saved from that youkai attack. She couldn't have been unconscious for too long because she imagined that she would have felt more rested upon waking if she had, not to mention that she wouldn't have drifted off sleep again so quickly after she was left alone. Plus, since a fire had been built and was still crackling away, she thought that it was probably still dark out as such a thing would be unnecessary if the sun could be used as a source of light.
Of course, daylight or the lack of it meant little to her at the moment.
It was a truly depressing thought as the fear of how she would get along for the next month in this darkness worried at her, burdening her mind and dampening her spirit. After all, what she had said earlier was true: with this blindness of hers, there were very few options open to her and she was at the mercy of her rescuer whom she knew next to nothing about.
But, strangely enough, despite his reassurances that weren't really all that reassuring, she felt herself trusting him for some reason. She couldn't figure out why, especially since she knew he was youkai, and it puzzled her immensely.
Practical nature springing up, she decided to stop thinking about these thoughts that got her nowhere. They'd do no good in the end, other than giving her a massive headache, because she had struck a bargain, after all. For better or worse, no matter what was in store for her, she'd given her word and would have to see it through because she didn't like being labeled a liar that went back on her promise. She'd deal with any consequences that may arise from it as they came; that was all she could do for the moment. And in the meantime, while she and her rescuer were thrown together due to their bargain, perhaps she'd be able to pick up some clues as to whom he was. It gave her something to do, at any rate.
But she needed him around to do it.
She'd discovered during his absence that she dealt much better with her temporary blindness when she wasn't left alone with it. The darkness, being unused to it, made her wary of attempting to do anything on her own without someone to watch over and make sure her stumbling steps weren't leading her into a more dangerous situation, especially with memories of her recent terrifying bout with a youkai attack so fresh in her mind. And so she had remained pretty much just as her rescuer had left her, huddled by the fire and wrapped in fur with nothing to do but think useless thoughts churning in her mind that got her nowhere as she tried to chase away the loneliness made deeper by being by herself in the dark.
Kagome clutched the fur tighter around her and waited, hoping he'd return soon.
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It was useless.
Still, even though he realized that, Inuyasha continued to search, trying to pick up any sort of trail that might lead him to the girl that he'd been too late to save from being carried off by his brother whom he had almost thought to be dead. But there had been no mistaking the scent that had been around the dead youkai as belonging to the one who, just a short time ago, he had fought with over the sword he now possessed. However, the scent's trail had ended a short distance away from the dead youkai and Inuyasha could only assume that his brother had taken to the air with Kagome so as not to leave any traces of their whereabouts behind. And now, try as he did, no matter how long he puzzled over it, Inuyasha just couldn't figure out what Sesshoumaru wanted with Kagome or, for that matter, why it seemed he'd rescued her from that hulking youkai in the first place.
Of course, it could be for some sort of revengeful plan on Sesshoumaru's part.
In the end, the answer didn't matter since Inuyasha was well aware of Sesshoumaru's distaste for humans and felt that whatever plans were in store for Kagome, they couldn't be good. The important thing was to find her before Sesshoumaru carried out his intentions towards her.
"Inuyasha," Kaede spoke up from behind him. "Still, no luck?"
Inuyasha stopped his fruitless sniffing to look up at her with those golden eyes of his. The answer was plain to see on his face as the old woman's keen eyes picked up the guilt the Inuyasha wasn't quite able to mask. Although he'd said nothing, Kaede had a feeling that Inuyasha was beating himself over the recent events even though there was really nothing he could have done to prevent them. She just hoped that he would come to realize that, too, as she was sure Kagome wouldn't want him to wallow in guilt either were she to have any say in it.
Suddenly, she startled as Inuyasha took a quick leap before her. Worried as she observed his snarl and the battle stance he adopted, Tetsusaiga drawn, she notched one of her arrows, aiming in the general direction Inuyasha's glare was directed towards. She barely stifled a gasp of surprise as she observed the figure that came into view.
"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha snarled. "What have you done with her?"
Instead of answering with words, a swatch of red appeared in Sesshoumaru's hands and he tossed it at them with a sharp flick of the wrist.
The streak of red sliced through the air for a moment before being immediately swiped by the snarling hanyou who was quick to bring the familiar piece of material to his nose. He was relieved that, upon recognizing the scent as belonging to Kagome, he could smell not even a hint of blood. Still, that didn't answer his question or even come close to giving him a clue as to her whereabouts.
"Where is she?" he growled, Tetsusaiga pointed at his brother.
Sesshoumaru merely stared back, expressionless as he pondered how to answer. He felt it beneath him to reply to such a rudely stated question asked by one who was obviously no match for him, sword or no sword. However, as much pleasure as he might take in refusing to give an explanation, it would only be a waste of time. And that was something he did not have much of as he had a feeling that it would be unwise to leave the girl alone on her own for too long. So, being the great tactician that he was, Sesshoumaru deigned to complete his task and replied in a straightforward manner.
"She is safe," Sesshoumaru stated indifferently.
"You expect me to just believe that?" Inuyasha glared.
"Do you think that I, Sesshoumaru," his gold eyes narrowed, "am a liar?"
"You lied about that youkai being my mother. So, yeah, why not?"
"Are you truly so foolish?" Sesshoumaru's glance was disdainful. "Did I ever directly say 'This woman is your mother'? I omitted and arranged events so that it appeared such but I never actually lied. It was your own stupidity that made you believe it."
"Why you-!"
"Inuyasha!" Kaede barked sharply, halting Inuyasha from launching himself in attack. "If Kagome is safe and he's here, that means he wants something. Let him speak first before doing anything."
"How surprising," Sesshoumaru commented. "Humans do have some intelligence after all." He glanced at Inuyasha. "Can it be that hanyou are even less than humans, then? Well, I have always suspected the sort, after all."
Inuyasha snarled, seeing red.
"Inuyasha!" Kaede cried once again. When he stilled, she turned her frowning face to Sesshoumaru. "It would be best to speak quickly if there's a reason for you to show yourself like this."
"Yes," Sesshoumaru mused, almost absently, as if uncaring about it. "He always did have a difficult time controlling himself." When Inuyasha might have tried leaping again, Sesshoumaru halted him by saying, "To immediately attack your elder brother like this when you know there's no chance of winning, you truly must be uncaring as to the girl's welfare."
"Feh," Inuyasha snorted. "As if you dropped by just to tell us how she's doing!"
"Oh, but I did." Sesshoumaru glanced at him coolly. "At her request."
"I don't believe it!" Inuyasha declared loudly.
"Take heed," there was an undertone of a warning growl to his voice, "lest you call me liar, little half-brother. I will not tolerate being labeled such so many times in one meeting, especially by you."
"Feh." Inuyasha took a more aggressive stance. "I'm not afraid of you."
"Then you truly are a fool." Sesshoumaru gazed back at him arrogantly.
Inuyasha glared. "I took one arm; I can take the other one too!"
"Stop, Inuyasha!" Kaede spoke sharply, authoritatively. Youkai blood or not, to her eyes they were behaving like children and she'd had enough of it. Turning to Sesshoumaru, she asked, "If you truly have come to tell us how she is, then please, how does she fare?"
"She is well," Sesshoumaru replied calmly.
"I see," Kaede sighed in relief.
"You believe him?" Inuyasha asked of her incredulously.
"Inuyasha," Kaede said wearily. "Calm down and think. No doubt, you know him better than I do. Do you really think he's the type to lie about something such as this?"
At that, Inuyasha merely gave a wordless growl, body tensing and whirling to glare heatedly at Sesshoumaru who was looking upon the scene with a coolly indifferent expression, as if bored with it all. Taking Inuyasha's relative silence as a measure of agreement and hoping that he'd control his aggressive tendencies, Kaede resumed her questioning of Sesshoumaru.
"Please," she said, glancing at the youkai lord worriedly. "Can you tell us what happened to her?"
"Very well."
Though he masked it well, he did have much experience in concealing his emotions after all, Sesshoumaru was supremely irritated. What was it with these humans and their need for explanations? But in the interest of saving time, he deemed it best to be as quick as possible and not let himself be sidetracked again with any outbursts Inuyasha might make. Much as it might gall, he should ignore Inuyasha, no matter what taunting words passed that hanyou's temper-inciting lips, so that he could return as soon as he could. With that thought in mind, he went about explaining, keeping in mind his promise with the girl.
"I slew that low-level youkai." He slid a glance at the old woman. "I assume you found the corpse?"
"Yes, we did," Kaede nodded.
Inuyasha just grunted.
"It was about to kill the girl, that Kagome, before I slew it and rescued her," Sesshoumaru said, ignoring Inuyasha's antagonistic glaring. "Now, she is somewhere safe. However, she is also blind."
"Blind!" Kaede exclaimed, horrified.
"Bastard!" Inuyasha snarled immediately. "What did you do to her?"
"I did nothing." Sesshoumaru glared coldly, claw flexing as irritation swam through him at the unjust accusation. Only his promise held him back. Still, he had to make it clear that it would not be tolerated. "Truly, you insult me too much this night." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Have great care before you start something you cannot hope to win."
"Inuyasha!" Kaede snapped harshly before the hanyou could let loose another scathing word that would spark a physical fight and forestall any further revelations as to Kagome's condition. "Enough of your bickering! Be quiet and listen to all he has to say before you do anything. I mean it." She shot Inuyasha another stern look before turning back to Sesshoumaru. "Forgive him. He's hot-tempered and foolish and just doesn't know better."
"Kaede-baba!" Inuyasha cried, insulted.
"That is true," Sesshoumaru conceded, relaxing.
Inuyasha glared.
"Please, continue with your explanation," Kaede said, ignoring Inuyasha's grumbling. "How did she come to be blind?"
"Her eyes were touched by that youkai's blood," Sesshoumaru replied calmly, also paying no attention to Inuyasha's hostile mutterings. "For one moon's cycle, she will be without sight."
"It's only temporary then," Kaede sighed, relieved.
"Yes." Sesshoumaru inclined his head imperiously. "The girl, Kagome, requested that I come and bring reassurance about her welfare. She gave me that," he spared a glance at the red cloth still clutched in Inuyasha's grip, "hoping it would forestall any fighting upon recognition. She also desired for Inuyasha to inform her family that she was well and would be gone for," he searched for the odd word she had used, "a month. Apparently, she does not wish for them to know about the extent of her condition."
"I see," Kaede said, risking a glance in Inuyasha's direction.
Inuyasha frowned as he thought about Sesshoumaru's words, rolling them through his mind.
What Sesshoumaru said certainly seemed like what Kagome would want from what Inuyasha knew of her personality so far. Plus, Sesshoumaru had used that word 'month' that Inuyasha had heard Kagome use. The only way Sesshoumaru could have knowledge of that word would be if he had actually carried on some semblance of a conversation with her. Also of some reassurance was the cloth, a brilliant red color he'd never seen matched in any other material of this era, that he recognized from Kagome's outfit. The fact that it did carry her scent strongly, and without the taint of her blood too, meant that it came from her recently. Though Sesshoumaru could have killed her without spilling blood, Inuyasha didn't think it likely, not really believing he'd go through so much effort to proclaim otherwise.
Then, there was how Sesshoumaru knew Kagome's name, a rare event since he usually didn't bother with anyone's name if he didn't think they were important enough, especially a human's. And, much as he was loath to admit it, Inuyasha knew that Sesshoumaru wasn't the type to fake coming to someone on friendly terms; he was more the directly confrontational type when it came to preference.
Plus, there was something else that bothered Inuyasha.
"Hey," he addressed Sesshoumaru. He glanced at his brother's shoulder, the area of which was usually wrapped in fur. "Where is it?"
For one silent moment, Sesshoumaru regarded Inuyasha impassively. Then he answered simply, "With her."
Inuyasha's eyes widened, barely biting back a gasp of surprise at the announcement. Sure, he had expected it but having his suspicions confirmed was something else altogether. And the implications of the revelation had all the hairs on his body prickling as they stood on end.
"Inuyasha?" Kaede inquired worriedly upon seeing his expression. "What is it?"
"Later," he bit out tersely, all his attention focused on his brother. Regarding Sesshoumaru's impassive features, Inuyasha asked warily, "Do you have any idea of what you've done?"
Sesshoumaru's expression stated how just foolish he thought the question.
Though the look made him bristle, Inuyasha continued to question, "Why did you take her?" He tensed. "To trade for the Tetsusaiga?"
"I do not need a human to take it away from you," Sesshoumaru replied disdainfully. "Today is not for retrieving Father's sword so you may rest easy on that at least. For now."
"Then why?" Inuyasha's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you searching for the Shikon shards too? Is that why you took her?"
"For that, too, I have no need of human aid." For a brief moment, Sesshoumaru wondered what the girl had to do with finding Shikon shards but he had no desire to profess his ignorance on the subject so he remained silent, tucking it in the back of his mind to be dealt with at a later date. "Besides," Sesshoumaru continued coolly, "unlike a hanyou such as you, I have no need to seek magical enhancements from something as artificial as the Shikon no Tama." His lips sneered disdainfully. "It was created due to a human, after all."
"If you're not interested in it," Inuyasha growled in irritation, "then why do you still have the shards? Why didn't Kagome give you those to hand over to me so that I'd know for sure that you weren't up to something?"
That was something Sesshoumaru did not know as well and was also loath to profess ignorance to. But it was certainly an interesting question that he hadn't thought of before, the answer of which he wished to ponder later. For now, he had to deal with the suspicious hanyou.
"You may ask her that yourself," Sesshoumaru stated calmly. "When she returns."
"You're giving her back?" Inuyasha asked warily.
Inuyasha wondered what the hell was going on. What in the world was going through that complex head of his? For sure, something important had to be up as there was no way Sesshoumaru would rescue a human girl out of the goodness of his heart and let her go so easily, not unless he had some sort of plan in mind. But what the hell was it that he was planning?
"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied easily. Then he added, "In one moon's cycle."
"You're keeping her?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "For that long?"
Sesshoumaru didn't even deign to reply, feeling such questions beneath his notice. Also, he believed he had said everything that needed to be said and had fulfilled his promise to the girl properly as she had requested. Duty done with the need to return hastily pressing upon him, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Inuyasha cried urgently as Sesshoumaru launched himself into the air, rapidly journeying further away. "Why are you doing this?!" Inuyasha yelled. "What do you want with her?!"
The rustling of wind was his only reply.
In the meantime, enjoy!
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CHAPTER 3: Mystery Upon Mystery
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It was completely dark.
Still, even though she couldn't see anything as the velvet black of darkness enveloped her, she continued to walk and walk, filled with an odd certainty that there was something up ahead, someplace where she desperately needed to go. She didn't know what and she didn't know how or why she knew this but she felt strongly that there was something she was supposed to head towards and, never once questioning it or the strangeness of the situation, she went. She kept moving in the direction her instincts pulled her to, as if some unseen force was guiding her and showing her the path to take in this darkness where sight seemed absolutely meaningless.
A glimmering caught her eyes and she quickened her pace, eager to reach it and discover what it was that was calling her. But her steps slowed the closer she got as she puzzled over the odd sight, wondering how such a thing could be.
It was a wall of water.
Curious, she reached out to touch the shimmering surface, rippling with glimmers of light that come from an undetermined source, but her hand was stopped by some sort of barrier that prevented her from coming into contact with it. It was strange and she pressed her face closer, wondering if she could catch a glimpse of whatever lay beyond that watery surface.
Then she gasped, jerking back in surprise when something behind that wall of water moved, a shadowy figure that she couldn't make out as it was obscured by the rippling motions of liquid that flowed across the surface. Though she could make out no details, she was sure that whoever or whatever it may be was watching her and the knowledge sent a cold chill down her spine.
The figure gestured and, with a small shriek, she suddenly found herself surrounded as the wall of water whooshed outwards and around her, engulfing her in its grasp.
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Kagome's eyes flew as she sat up with a gasp, stifling the shriek that built up in her throat, pulse pounding and body shivering with remembered fright. Everything was dark and, for a second she thought she was still in that other place. But then the crackling of fire penetrated her senses and, slowly, her agitation settled until she could think more normally again.
It was only a dream.
She had no idea what it had been about or if there was any meaning to it at all but it certainly had been odd. As the memories of it became more vague, slipping away as she became more conscious, she finally chalked it up as a reaction to the stressful events she'd been though recently. After all, just thinking about all that had happened in just a short amount of time was exhausting enough, not to mention the upheaval the recent turn of events was going to wreak with her life.
She sighed heavily, feeling drained and not very rested at all, realizing she must have drifted off to sleep after her mystery rescuer had left, hopefully to tell Inuyasha that she was fine, just as she had requested. It made her wonder how many hours passed since she'd been saved from that youkai attack. She couldn't have been unconscious for too long because she imagined that she would have felt more rested upon waking if she had, not to mention that she wouldn't have drifted off sleep again so quickly after she was left alone. Plus, since a fire had been built and was still crackling away, she thought that it was probably still dark out as such a thing would be unnecessary if the sun could be used as a source of light.
Of course, daylight or the lack of it meant little to her at the moment.
It was a truly depressing thought as the fear of how she would get along for the next month in this darkness worried at her, burdening her mind and dampening her spirit. After all, what she had said earlier was true: with this blindness of hers, there were very few options open to her and she was at the mercy of her rescuer whom she knew next to nothing about.
But, strangely enough, despite his reassurances that weren't really all that reassuring, she felt herself trusting him for some reason. She couldn't figure out why, especially since she knew he was youkai, and it puzzled her immensely.
Practical nature springing up, she decided to stop thinking about these thoughts that got her nowhere. They'd do no good in the end, other than giving her a massive headache, because she had struck a bargain, after all. For better or worse, no matter what was in store for her, she'd given her word and would have to see it through because she didn't like being labeled a liar that went back on her promise. She'd deal with any consequences that may arise from it as they came; that was all she could do for the moment. And in the meantime, while she and her rescuer were thrown together due to their bargain, perhaps she'd be able to pick up some clues as to whom he was. It gave her something to do, at any rate.
But she needed him around to do it.
She'd discovered during his absence that she dealt much better with her temporary blindness when she wasn't left alone with it. The darkness, being unused to it, made her wary of attempting to do anything on her own without someone to watch over and make sure her stumbling steps weren't leading her into a more dangerous situation, especially with memories of her recent terrifying bout with a youkai attack so fresh in her mind. And so she had remained pretty much just as her rescuer had left her, huddled by the fire and wrapped in fur with nothing to do but think useless thoughts churning in her mind that got her nowhere as she tried to chase away the loneliness made deeper by being by herself in the dark.
Kagome clutched the fur tighter around her and waited, hoping he'd return soon.
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It was useless.
Still, even though he realized that, Inuyasha continued to search, trying to pick up any sort of trail that might lead him to the girl that he'd been too late to save from being carried off by his brother whom he had almost thought to be dead. But there had been no mistaking the scent that had been around the dead youkai as belonging to the one who, just a short time ago, he had fought with over the sword he now possessed. However, the scent's trail had ended a short distance away from the dead youkai and Inuyasha could only assume that his brother had taken to the air with Kagome so as not to leave any traces of their whereabouts behind. And now, try as he did, no matter how long he puzzled over it, Inuyasha just couldn't figure out what Sesshoumaru wanted with Kagome or, for that matter, why it seemed he'd rescued her from that hulking youkai in the first place.
Of course, it could be for some sort of revengeful plan on Sesshoumaru's part.
In the end, the answer didn't matter since Inuyasha was well aware of Sesshoumaru's distaste for humans and felt that whatever plans were in store for Kagome, they couldn't be good. The important thing was to find her before Sesshoumaru carried out his intentions towards her.
"Inuyasha," Kaede spoke up from behind him. "Still, no luck?"
Inuyasha stopped his fruitless sniffing to look up at her with those golden eyes of his. The answer was plain to see on his face as the old woman's keen eyes picked up the guilt the Inuyasha wasn't quite able to mask. Although he'd said nothing, Kaede had a feeling that Inuyasha was beating himself over the recent events even though there was really nothing he could have done to prevent them. She just hoped that he would come to realize that, too, as she was sure Kagome wouldn't want him to wallow in guilt either were she to have any say in it.
Suddenly, she startled as Inuyasha took a quick leap before her. Worried as she observed his snarl and the battle stance he adopted, Tetsusaiga drawn, she notched one of her arrows, aiming in the general direction Inuyasha's glare was directed towards. She barely stifled a gasp of surprise as she observed the figure that came into view.
"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha snarled. "What have you done with her?"
Instead of answering with words, a swatch of red appeared in Sesshoumaru's hands and he tossed it at them with a sharp flick of the wrist.
The streak of red sliced through the air for a moment before being immediately swiped by the snarling hanyou who was quick to bring the familiar piece of material to his nose. He was relieved that, upon recognizing the scent as belonging to Kagome, he could smell not even a hint of blood. Still, that didn't answer his question or even come close to giving him a clue as to her whereabouts.
"Where is she?" he growled, Tetsusaiga pointed at his brother.
Sesshoumaru merely stared back, expressionless as he pondered how to answer. He felt it beneath him to reply to such a rudely stated question asked by one who was obviously no match for him, sword or no sword. However, as much pleasure as he might take in refusing to give an explanation, it would only be a waste of time. And that was something he did not have much of as he had a feeling that it would be unwise to leave the girl alone on her own for too long. So, being the great tactician that he was, Sesshoumaru deigned to complete his task and replied in a straightforward manner.
"She is safe," Sesshoumaru stated indifferently.
"You expect me to just believe that?" Inuyasha glared.
"Do you think that I, Sesshoumaru," his gold eyes narrowed, "am a liar?"
"You lied about that youkai being my mother. So, yeah, why not?"
"Are you truly so foolish?" Sesshoumaru's glance was disdainful. "Did I ever directly say 'This woman is your mother'? I omitted and arranged events so that it appeared such but I never actually lied. It was your own stupidity that made you believe it."
"Why you-!"
"Inuyasha!" Kaede barked sharply, halting Inuyasha from launching himself in attack. "If Kagome is safe and he's here, that means he wants something. Let him speak first before doing anything."
"How surprising," Sesshoumaru commented. "Humans do have some intelligence after all." He glanced at Inuyasha. "Can it be that hanyou are even less than humans, then? Well, I have always suspected the sort, after all."
Inuyasha snarled, seeing red.
"Inuyasha!" Kaede cried once again. When he stilled, she turned her frowning face to Sesshoumaru. "It would be best to speak quickly if there's a reason for you to show yourself like this."
"Yes," Sesshoumaru mused, almost absently, as if uncaring about it. "He always did have a difficult time controlling himself." When Inuyasha might have tried leaping again, Sesshoumaru halted him by saying, "To immediately attack your elder brother like this when you know there's no chance of winning, you truly must be uncaring as to the girl's welfare."
"Feh," Inuyasha snorted. "As if you dropped by just to tell us how she's doing!"
"Oh, but I did." Sesshoumaru glanced at him coolly. "At her request."
"I don't believe it!" Inuyasha declared loudly.
"Take heed," there was an undertone of a warning growl to his voice, "lest you call me liar, little half-brother. I will not tolerate being labeled such so many times in one meeting, especially by you."
"Feh." Inuyasha took a more aggressive stance. "I'm not afraid of you."
"Then you truly are a fool." Sesshoumaru gazed back at him arrogantly.
Inuyasha glared. "I took one arm; I can take the other one too!"
"Stop, Inuyasha!" Kaede spoke sharply, authoritatively. Youkai blood or not, to her eyes they were behaving like children and she'd had enough of it. Turning to Sesshoumaru, she asked, "If you truly have come to tell us how she is, then please, how does she fare?"
"She is well," Sesshoumaru replied calmly.
"I see," Kaede sighed in relief.
"You believe him?" Inuyasha asked of her incredulously.
"Inuyasha," Kaede said wearily. "Calm down and think. No doubt, you know him better than I do. Do you really think he's the type to lie about something such as this?"
At that, Inuyasha merely gave a wordless growl, body tensing and whirling to glare heatedly at Sesshoumaru who was looking upon the scene with a coolly indifferent expression, as if bored with it all. Taking Inuyasha's relative silence as a measure of agreement and hoping that he'd control his aggressive tendencies, Kaede resumed her questioning of Sesshoumaru.
"Please," she said, glancing at the youkai lord worriedly. "Can you tell us what happened to her?"
"Very well."
Though he masked it well, he did have much experience in concealing his emotions after all, Sesshoumaru was supremely irritated. What was it with these humans and their need for explanations? But in the interest of saving time, he deemed it best to be as quick as possible and not let himself be sidetracked again with any outbursts Inuyasha might make. Much as it might gall, he should ignore Inuyasha, no matter what taunting words passed that hanyou's temper-inciting lips, so that he could return as soon as he could. With that thought in mind, he went about explaining, keeping in mind his promise with the girl.
"I slew that low-level youkai." He slid a glance at the old woman. "I assume you found the corpse?"
"Yes, we did," Kaede nodded.
Inuyasha just grunted.
"It was about to kill the girl, that Kagome, before I slew it and rescued her," Sesshoumaru said, ignoring Inuyasha's antagonistic glaring. "Now, she is somewhere safe. However, she is also blind."
"Blind!" Kaede exclaimed, horrified.
"Bastard!" Inuyasha snarled immediately. "What did you do to her?"
"I did nothing." Sesshoumaru glared coldly, claw flexing as irritation swam through him at the unjust accusation. Only his promise held him back. Still, he had to make it clear that it would not be tolerated. "Truly, you insult me too much this night." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Have great care before you start something you cannot hope to win."
"Inuyasha!" Kaede snapped harshly before the hanyou could let loose another scathing word that would spark a physical fight and forestall any further revelations as to Kagome's condition. "Enough of your bickering! Be quiet and listen to all he has to say before you do anything. I mean it." She shot Inuyasha another stern look before turning back to Sesshoumaru. "Forgive him. He's hot-tempered and foolish and just doesn't know better."
"Kaede-baba!" Inuyasha cried, insulted.
"That is true," Sesshoumaru conceded, relaxing.
Inuyasha glared.
"Please, continue with your explanation," Kaede said, ignoring Inuyasha's grumbling. "How did she come to be blind?"
"Her eyes were touched by that youkai's blood," Sesshoumaru replied calmly, also paying no attention to Inuyasha's hostile mutterings. "For one moon's cycle, she will be without sight."
"It's only temporary then," Kaede sighed, relieved.
"Yes." Sesshoumaru inclined his head imperiously. "The girl, Kagome, requested that I come and bring reassurance about her welfare. She gave me that," he spared a glance at the red cloth still clutched in Inuyasha's grip, "hoping it would forestall any fighting upon recognition. She also desired for Inuyasha to inform her family that she was well and would be gone for," he searched for the odd word she had used, "a month. Apparently, she does not wish for them to know about the extent of her condition."
"I see," Kaede said, risking a glance in Inuyasha's direction.
Inuyasha frowned as he thought about Sesshoumaru's words, rolling them through his mind.
What Sesshoumaru said certainly seemed like what Kagome would want from what Inuyasha knew of her personality so far. Plus, Sesshoumaru had used that word 'month' that Inuyasha had heard Kagome use. The only way Sesshoumaru could have knowledge of that word would be if he had actually carried on some semblance of a conversation with her. Also of some reassurance was the cloth, a brilliant red color he'd never seen matched in any other material of this era, that he recognized from Kagome's outfit. The fact that it did carry her scent strongly, and without the taint of her blood too, meant that it came from her recently. Though Sesshoumaru could have killed her without spilling blood, Inuyasha didn't think it likely, not really believing he'd go through so much effort to proclaim otherwise.
Then, there was how Sesshoumaru knew Kagome's name, a rare event since he usually didn't bother with anyone's name if he didn't think they were important enough, especially a human's. And, much as he was loath to admit it, Inuyasha knew that Sesshoumaru wasn't the type to fake coming to someone on friendly terms; he was more the directly confrontational type when it came to preference.
Plus, there was something else that bothered Inuyasha.
"Hey," he addressed Sesshoumaru. He glanced at his brother's shoulder, the area of which was usually wrapped in fur. "Where is it?"
For one silent moment, Sesshoumaru regarded Inuyasha impassively. Then he answered simply, "With her."
Inuyasha's eyes widened, barely biting back a gasp of surprise at the announcement. Sure, he had expected it but having his suspicions confirmed was something else altogether. And the implications of the revelation had all the hairs on his body prickling as they stood on end.
"Inuyasha?" Kaede inquired worriedly upon seeing his expression. "What is it?"
"Later," he bit out tersely, all his attention focused on his brother. Regarding Sesshoumaru's impassive features, Inuyasha asked warily, "Do you have any idea of what you've done?"
Sesshoumaru's expression stated how just foolish he thought the question.
Though the look made him bristle, Inuyasha continued to question, "Why did you take her?" He tensed. "To trade for the Tetsusaiga?"
"I do not need a human to take it away from you," Sesshoumaru replied disdainfully. "Today is not for retrieving Father's sword so you may rest easy on that at least. For now."
"Then why?" Inuyasha's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you searching for the Shikon shards too? Is that why you took her?"
"For that, too, I have no need of human aid." For a brief moment, Sesshoumaru wondered what the girl had to do with finding Shikon shards but he had no desire to profess his ignorance on the subject so he remained silent, tucking it in the back of his mind to be dealt with at a later date. "Besides," Sesshoumaru continued coolly, "unlike a hanyou such as you, I have no need to seek magical enhancements from something as artificial as the Shikon no Tama." His lips sneered disdainfully. "It was created due to a human, after all."
"If you're not interested in it," Inuyasha growled in irritation, "then why do you still have the shards? Why didn't Kagome give you those to hand over to me so that I'd know for sure that you weren't up to something?"
That was something Sesshoumaru did not know as well and was also loath to profess ignorance to. But it was certainly an interesting question that he hadn't thought of before, the answer of which he wished to ponder later. For now, he had to deal with the suspicious hanyou.
"You may ask her that yourself," Sesshoumaru stated calmly. "When she returns."
"You're giving her back?" Inuyasha asked warily.
Inuyasha wondered what the hell was going on. What in the world was going through that complex head of his? For sure, something important had to be up as there was no way Sesshoumaru would rescue a human girl out of the goodness of his heart and let her go so easily, not unless he had some sort of plan in mind. But what the hell was it that he was planning?
"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied easily. Then he added, "In one moon's cycle."
"You're keeping her?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "For that long?"
Sesshoumaru didn't even deign to reply, feeling such questions beneath his notice. Also, he believed he had said everything that needed to be said and had fulfilled his promise to the girl properly as she had requested. Duty done with the need to return hastily pressing upon him, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Inuyasha cried urgently as Sesshoumaru launched himself into the air, rapidly journeying further away. "Why are you doing this?!" Inuyasha yelled. "What do you want with her?!"
The rustling of wind was his only reply.