Disclaimer: Inuyasha characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Other characters are property of Kidoairaku.
Rating: PG-13: for possible language and just in case
Summary: [Sess/Kag] What if Sesshoumaru was the one that met Kagome on the other side of the well?
Genre: Romance/Drama
A/N: NOTE: Pen name was changed from Dark Star to kidoairaku. ^_^ Wonderful that I got inspired again…too bad this comes with a long story…if I'm patient enough to write it. ^_^
SesshoumaruChapter Eight
April 2003
It was early evening when Kagome and Sesshoumaru first set out to begin the long awaited "mission" for the other two souls of the Shikon no Tama. Provisions were scant, as everything they would need was provided for by nature. The bound pair had commenced with an incredibly progressive start. Six miles were traversed in only an hour. For the most part, it was running. From youkai. Kagome had a tendency to attract creatures of power in varying degrees. Being from the future, where there were no bad monsters to bother a schoolgirl, and ignorant to matters of mythical creatures, she had no choice but to turn tail, screaming, and run for her pitiful life. Even Sesshoumaru had a spell of trouble catching her.
Thus, the pair returned by early morning. Kagome, worse for wear, was carried limply in Sesshoumaru's arms, the latter wearing a scowl on his regal face. So much for nothing stopping him in his quest for truth. Whatever.
~*~*~*~*~
Kagome awoke sometime in late afternoon, while the golden sun was at its zenith. The first thing, or rather person, she saw was Sesshoumaru, sitting at the edge of her bed and staring at her quite irritably.
"You never informed me that you could not defend yourself, Kagome."
She huffed and turned her back on him, pulling the covers around her. "You never asked."
His eyes narrowed. "You will wake early to begin training. A month will be allotted to you; it should suffice to teach more than the basics of defense and offense."
Not another word was said, and he moved over to his own bed, neighboring hers. Damn this annoying bond.
~*~*~*~*~
"My Lord, the time has come. You must choose."
Inutaisho sat in indecision, turning his gaze from his mate to his sons, both sleeping in the far corner within an immense crib. His golden eyes turned on his retainer, old and wise, and then back to his wife.
"A hanyou cannot be allowed to rule over the throne of the Western Lands," he stated softly.
The woman's hands were folded tightly in her lap as she kneeled before him, as was custom. "Do you take favor with one of your sons, then, love?" She looked to him with tears in her eyes. "Do you hate one of them as well? Is his blood too…filthy…for your liking, my Lord? I have, undoubtedly, soiled you, my Lord. And I give you my deepest of apologies."
Her voice held neither sympathy nor humor. She was serious. One of the heads in the crib peeked over the edge, observing what only childish ears could. What was going on? Sesshoumaru did not know. He gave a slight shrug and laid back down. Whatever it was, chichiue and hahaue would take care of it.
Sesshoumaru's eyes snapped open, pupils un-dilating as his enhanced vision kicked in. Night was yet still young…why had he waken? Slowly, he sat up and massaged his temples with one hand. Glancing over to his bond partner's bed, he found she was still sleeping peacefully. The demon lord closed his eyes and withheld a sigh. What did all this mean? That scene had been far back in his childhood; it was, seemingly, of no relevance.
He sat in contemplation for a while. The chamber was cast in a drab gray light. Dawn was approaching. Sesshoumaru ran a hand through his silky hair and rose, donning his clothing and armor.
"Get up," he commanded roughly, shaking Kagome's injured shoulder.
There was a yowl of pain, and then she shot about dressing herself.
"Don't be so…so…insufferable! That hurt!" she whined. Kagome ceased her scurry and stood in front of him. "What's the plan, my Lord?"
A wave of nostalgia overcame him. You must choose, my Lord…Is his blood too…filthy…for your liking, my Lord? A slow shake of the head dispelled his thoughts. "Come."
~*~*~*~*~
"You're kidding!" Kagome howled into the dojo.
"I assure you, this situation does not consist of any humor, whatsoever," replied Sesshoumaru, turning the key and melting it with his venomous claws.
Enchanted torches burned continuously in the vast room of stone. No windows allowed light to stream through, and the roof was of solid rock, as was the rest of the fortress.
"I can't believe you would actually do something like this to a girl!" she complained, running her hands along the solid walls. "How are we going to get out?!"
Sesshoumaru smirked. "This is your training, dear Kagome. The walls are constructed of only three inches of dense stone. Your training, as I deem it, will come to a close when you can free yourself from this place." He paused and looked her over quickly. "I, as a demon, can easily take leave, but you, human as you are, cannot break through without an exponential increase in strength or mental ability." His arms folded. "I suggest you get started, as I will not provide you any food. Water will be provided readily enough; the ceiling has been enchanted to allow rainwater to fall through. Let's go."
Those two words commenced the most horrendous, miserable, torturous, stressful, and hellish, but otherwise progressive month of Kagome's entire life. Right after those syllables were uttered, Sesshoumaru had launched at her, claws extended and dripping with acid. Kagome screamed and ran, her "Lord's" claws just grazing her back. It continued in this manner for two and a half solid hours.
"ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY?!" She shrieked, dodging another blow.
"I am perfectly sane, thank you for your concern," was the response.
"STOP!"
"Find a weapon."
She took a sharp detour and lunged for a katana off the wall. Crying triumphantly, she managed to parry the dog demon's claws for half a millisecond before the blade melted away at his touch. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation, but there was only a rush of wind and the floor vibrating next to her (she was lying on the ground). Upon cracking an eye open, she found Sesshoumaru hovering over her, claws over her throat.
"You lose."
"What?!" Kagome exclaimed. "You…how am I supposed to fight YOU?!"
Sweat, she noticed, was trickling down her forehead while Sesshoumaru seemed completely unfazed. She scowled.
"Two minutes; we go again," he intoned, rising.
"How can you…I just…are you MAD?!"
He dusted himself off, glaring at her pointedly. "There is more than one way to skin a cat, Kagome. Physical force is not a must at this point."
"Huh?"
"One minute, thirty seconds."
Kagome laid still, taking deep, cleansing breaths. Help, she thought hopelessly.
"You've got no strength, Kagome; admit it. Peruse a different angle, ne?"
"Thanks, Seisho."
Alright, she mused, let's try cunning. Kagome was barely able to push herself up, taking the wasted time to scout her environment.
"Half-second warning." And then a blade slit her shoulder from behind, tearing part of her kimono as well.
"Dear Lord," she gasped, rocketing into motion. Her hand clutched her shoulder in pain. Her legs, she swore, they would just…melt away with the exertion.
Now he used his demonic speed and appeared in front of her. "No more running."
Kagome's eyes widened slightly. Did this mean they were stopping? Was Sesshoumaru showing some concern for her? Was he…? Ha, no. Sword in hand, he charged at her head-on, and Kagome barely had time to dodge. It had been too much to hope for. She mentally sighed. Reaching behind her, she pulled another sword off the wall, throwing the blade straight into Sesshoumaru as he passed. Please work! Again, she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Nice work," came Sesshoumaru's smooth, deep voice.
Kagome opened her eyes quickly and drank in his appearance. The demon lord, as always, was the picture of perfection…if it wasn't for the cut running from the edge of his right eye to the corner of his lips. She gasped. Cautiously, she moved over to him, reaching out to touch his face.
"I did that?" she queried breathily. Her fingers lightly ran along the edge of the cut, blood staining her fingertips. She stared at the crimson liquid. "I'm so sorry, Sesshoumaru."
He wanted to laugh aloud. Sorry? There was no sorry in battle. This girl amused him. He lunged at her with acidic claws AND a sword, intending fully to cause her physical harm in order to teach her a lesson on fighting. Ha. And then she throws a flimsy katana at him. He gets a cut. Where was the lesson in that? He scowled. Expect the unexpected, he would guess. It was most certainly a good thing there wasn't a mirror in this room. His gaze averted to Kagome's face. Otherwise, he probably would have killed the girl for touching his face.
A/N: That was fast, ne? ^_^ I love to write when inspired, thank the gods.
Glossary:
Chichiue-From what I know, father.
Hahaue-Mother
Katana-Japanese sword
-kidoairaku