Disclaimer: yada, yada, yada...
I am so sorry about not posting for so long... I had a school trip for a week... it was fun.... So I obviously couldn't update...
Yeah, Sesshomaru wouldn't have been persuaded to help Inu and the others that easily. But hey, you think that's over? This chapter's gonna have some more detail and explanations as to why Sesshomaru helped Inuyasha, what he wants, and how Kagome and Inuyasha are gonna give it to him.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud (more or less) to present the next chapter!
Forever
Chapter 13: Pondering
Sesshomaru
Rin hugged her savior as Sesshomaru carried her calmly. He didn't know where he was going until he reached the village. Immediately he placed Rin to the ground and stumbled after Inuyasha's scent.
He found his brother embracing the human girl, Kagome, tightly on the ground. He was bloody, torn, ragged... and yet Inuyasha seemed perfectly happy, joy brightening his entire face, eyes glittering in pure bliss.
Sesshomaru struggled not to smile at his brother's happiness, not to let his walls down for an instant. But he failed utterly. A smile traced his lips gently. It was a soft smile, a tiny smile... but a smile nonetheless. And this was no evil grin, no smirk of victory. No... Sesshomaru's smile was true, as Inuyasha's...
And then the demon remembered his reasons for coming here.
"I believe you are in my debt, Miss Kagome..."
The girl lifted her head from Inuyasha's shoulder and gazed at Sesshomaru, her eyes watering with happiness. She stood slowly, and in a swift motion, wrapped Sesshomaru in a tight embrace.
"Thank you..." she muttered to him softly.
Then, as Inuyasha staggered to his feet, Kagome returned to the hanyou. She held him steadily, as if depending on his strength, even though he was far weaker at that moment...
"What is your request? Your wish?" she asked softly, her smile still blissful.
"Do not forget... you owe me a life."
Kagome nodded solemnly. "A life. Your wish?"
"Knowledge."
Inuyasha growled slightly, and spoke for Kagome.
"Knowledge? Of what?"
Sesshomaru smiled at his brother's complete and utter ignorance. "Of the well."
Kagura
He was gone. Gone! Naraku had been defeated... but why, then, was she still breathing? Upon Naraku's death, would she not die as part of him?
So he wasn't dead...
Kagura felt it, every motion of his. She knew at each moment where he was, what he was doing... and she knew now that he was on the brink of death, but still alive.
Kagura's breath caught. She had the power, then, to escape this wretched place! She would die alongside Naraku, perhaps, but was not weakened in the least by his wounds.
All the more fun for her to kick them.
Kagome POV
He wanted to know about my time....
Precious. Simply precious. That utter state of shock on Inuyasha's face was probably one of those great "Kodak Moments" commercials often buzzed on about.
I stifled a fit of giggles as I stared at Inuyasha's expression. His eyes wide, mouth slightly open, ears drooping... why, the mighty hanyou Inuyasha was no more than a hungry puppy!
My hungry puppy.
"Alright," I replied hastily, "But you have to promise not to... to tell any one else..."
Sesshomaru smirked. "You have my word."
And then Inuyasha spoke up with the words that made him Inuyasha.
"Your words are worthless, dirt pile!"
At another time, perhaps I would have 'sat' him, but this was a different occasion. He was far too wounded already by Naraku's trickery. He had no need to be hurt by me as well.
I led Naraku and Inuyasha through the forest, winding between thick trunks of giant trees. At length we reached the well.
Touching the rim of the well, I turned back to face Sesshomaru.
"This," I said, "Is a portal to my time. To the future... in five hundred years. It's where I go at times. My time is where I get all of those 'strange gadgets.'"
Sesshomaru nodded, apparently deep in thought. He looked very... intelligent. His pose drew a perfect shape of contemplation. Soon he raised his head and gazed at me with a piercing gaze.
It was a cool gaze, sweeping an icy wave of fear about me. Not at all like Inuyasha's soft, warm glances that warmed me in the cold, and cooled me in the heat. Not at all like my hanyou's reassuring gaze that destroyed all doubt and fear in my mind...
Sesshomaru's words broke my train of thought.
"You strike a great resemblance to the deceased Kikyo..."
I nodded. Inuyasha approached me, staring at his brother with such hate... With such malice, that it was almost... funny.
"She's Kikyo's reincarnation..." growled Inuyasha in reply to Sesshomaru's statement.
Kagura
Her chains snapped momentarily. Kagura stood, and, rubbing her wrists, sent a nervous glance about the dark room. Nothing disturbed her.
Looking down at the fan in her hand, the demon smirked. She did, indeed have a very helpful ability to manipulate her fans... Picking up the second fan that lay on the dirty floor, Kagura set out from her cell.
As she tread the long, dark, gloomy corridor that led to the main doors of Naraku's castle, Kagura noticed that the demon shadows that had once haunted the halls were gone. The souls had been freed.
So Naraku had fallen to that insolent dog, Inuyasha.
Kagura looked at her hands, and smirked further.
Naraku was still alive... but he'd not bother her again.
Inuyasha
Sesshomaru had retired to one of his many castles, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha alone again in the clearing. They watched the demon disappear into the shadows, a slight smile still on his face.
Kagome's face was red from laughing, her eyes still streaming tears as she broke out into yet another fit of giggles. Inuyasha glared at her, rather irritated by the human's harsh sense of humor. She was laughing at Inuyasha, and his attempts to seem strong and protect her. Inuyasha didn't like being laughed. He didn't like it one bit.
Growling slightly, Inuyasha tried to draw the Tetsaiga. It didn't scare Kagome at all, for she knew the sword did not work against humans. Sheathing the weapon, the hanyou looked momentarily at his claws. Kagome ceased her laughing instantly, looking in fear at the look in Inuyasha's eyes.
It was a look of memory, a look of sad and painful remembrance.
Flashback
"Go play in the swamp, half-breed!"
"The demons wouldn't accept you? Why should humans?"
"I almost feel sorry for you, half-breed... Almost."
The small, white-haired half-demon with dog ears felt tears growing in his eyes. He'd tried to protect his mother, for the villagers had ganged up against her again, blaming her for all the bad luck they'd been having. The little Inuyasha stood up against them, but as he extended his claws, they laughed.
And they laughed.
And they laughed...
End of Flashback
He didn't notice, at first, the warmth around him. He didn't feel the slight pressure of Kagome's hands on his back. But he did hear her sweet words. They resounded in his head a million times, splitting into shards, sharp shards that pierced his heart.
"I'm sorry... I... I didn't know..."
He felt a rage then, a terrible rage that had nothing to do with Kagome. Inuyasha knew he shouldn't have done what he did then. He knew he shouldn't have spoken those words.
But his rage took over his motions.
Inuyasha jerked suddenly, and pushed Kagome away from him roughly. As she fell to the ground, the girl looked... hurt. It pierced Inuyasha's heart... but it was too late now.
"You didn't know a lot of things!" He shouted, before whirling around and limping away.
As Inuyasha vanished in the trees, Kagome lay on the ground, tears threatening to spill, wondering how the day could have began so wonderfully and ended so... terribly.
Whew... that took me a while. Excuse the shortness, and the long time it took me to write this. Sorry!!! Summer vacation's starting soon... no school or homework... so I'll try to update more often!
I am so sorry about not posting for so long... I had a school trip for a week... it was fun.... So I obviously couldn't update...
Yeah, Sesshomaru wouldn't have been persuaded to help Inu and the others that easily. But hey, you think that's over? This chapter's gonna have some more detail and explanations as to why Sesshomaru helped Inuyasha, what he wants, and how Kagome and Inuyasha are gonna give it to him.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud (more or less) to present the next chapter!
Forever
Chapter 13: Pondering
Sesshomaru
Rin hugged her savior as Sesshomaru carried her calmly. He didn't know where he was going until he reached the village. Immediately he placed Rin to the ground and stumbled after Inuyasha's scent.
He found his brother embracing the human girl, Kagome, tightly on the ground. He was bloody, torn, ragged... and yet Inuyasha seemed perfectly happy, joy brightening his entire face, eyes glittering in pure bliss.
Sesshomaru struggled not to smile at his brother's happiness, not to let his walls down for an instant. But he failed utterly. A smile traced his lips gently. It was a soft smile, a tiny smile... but a smile nonetheless. And this was no evil grin, no smirk of victory. No... Sesshomaru's smile was true, as Inuyasha's...
And then the demon remembered his reasons for coming here.
"I believe you are in my debt, Miss Kagome..."
The girl lifted her head from Inuyasha's shoulder and gazed at Sesshomaru, her eyes watering with happiness. She stood slowly, and in a swift motion, wrapped Sesshomaru in a tight embrace.
"Thank you..." she muttered to him softly.
Then, as Inuyasha staggered to his feet, Kagome returned to the hanyou. She held him steadily, as if depending on his strength, even though he was far weaker at that moment...
"What is your request? Your wish?" she asked softly, her smile still blissful.
"Do not forget... you owe me a life."
Kagome nodded solemnly. "A life. Your wish?"
"Knowledge."
Inuyasha growled slightly, and spoke for Kagome.
"Knowledge? Of what?"
Sesshomaru smiled at his brother's complete and utter ignorance. "Of the well."
Kagura
He was gone. Gone! Naraku had been defeated... but why, then, was she still breathing? Upon Naraku's death, would she not die as part of him?
So he wasn't dead...
Kagura felt it, every motion of his. She knew at each moment where he was, what he was doing... and she knew now that he was on the brink of death, but still alive.
Kagura's breath caught. She had the power, then, to escape this wretched place! She would die alongside Naraku, perhaps, but was not weakened in the least by his wounds.
All the more fun for her to kick them.
Kagome POV
He wanted to know about my time....
Precious. Simply precious. That utter state of shock on Inuyasha's face was probably one of those great "Kodak Moments" commercials often buzzed on about.
I stifled a fit of giggles as I stared at Inuyasha's expression. His eyes wide, mouth slightly open, ears drooping... why, the mighty hanyou Inuyasha was no more than a hungry puppy!
My hungry puppy.
"Alright," I replied hastily, "But you have to promise not to... to tell any one else..."
Sesshomaru smirked. "You have my word."
And then Inuyasha spoke up with the words that made him Inuyasha.
"Your words are worthless, dirt pile!"
At another time, perhaps I would have 'sat' him, but this was a different occasion. He was far too wounded already by Naraku's trickery. He had no need to be hurt by me as well.
I led Naraku and Inuyasha through the forest, winding between thick trunks of giant trees. At length we reached the well.
Touching the rim of the well, I turned back to face Sesshomaru.
"This," I said, "Is a portal to my time. To the future... in five hundred years. It's where I go at times. My time is where I get all of those 'strange gadgets.'"
Sesshomaru nodded, apparently deep in thought. He looked very... intelligent. His pose drew a perfect shape of contemplation. Soon he raised his head and gazed at me with a piercing gaze.
It was a cool gaze, sweeping an icy wave of fear about me. Not at all like Inuyasha's soft, warm glances that warmed me in the cold, and cooled me in the heat. Not at all like my hanyou's reassuring gaze that destroyed all doubt and fear in my mind...
Sesshomaru's words broke my train of thought.
"You strike a great resemblance to the deceased Kikyo..."
I nodded. Inuyasha approached me, staring at his brother with such hate... With such malice, that it was almost... funny.
"She's Kikyo's reincarnation..." growled Inuyasha in reply to Sesshomaru's statement.
Kagura
Her chains snapped momentarily. Kagura stood, and, rubbing her wrists, sent a nervous glance about the dark room. Nothing disturbed her.
Looking down at the fan in her hand, the demon smirked. She did, indeed have a very helpful ability to manipulate her fans... Picking up the second fan that lay on the dirty floor, Kagura set out from her cell.
As she tread the long, dark, gloomy corridor that led to the main doors of Naraku's castle, Kagura noticed that the demon shadows that had once haunted the halls were gone. The souls had been freed.
So Naraku had fallen to that insolent dog, Inuyasha.
Kagura looked at her hands, and smirked further.
Naraku was still alive... but he'd not bother her again.
Inuyasha
Sesshomaru had retired to one of his many castles, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha alone again in the clearing. They watched the demon disappear into the shadows, a slight smile still on his face.
Kagome's face was red from laughing, her eyes still streaming tears as she broke out into yet another fit of giggles. Inuyasha glared at her, rather irritated by the human's harsh sense of humor. She was laughing at Inuyasha, and his attempts to seem strong and protect her. Inuyasha didn't like being laughed. He didn't like it one bit.
Growling slightly, Inuyasha tried to draw the Tetsaiga. It didn't scare Kagome at all, for she knew the sword did not work against humans. Sheathing the weapon, the hanyou looked momentarily at his claws. Kagome ceased her laughing instantly, looking in fear at the look in Inuyasha's eyes.
It was a look of memory, a look of sad and painful remembrance.
Flashback
"Go play in the swamp, half-breed!"
"The demons wouldn't accept you? Why should humans?"
"I almost feel sorry for you, half-breed... Almost."
The small, white-haired half-demon with dog ears felt tears growing in his eyes. He'd tried to protect his mother, for the villagers had ganged up against her again, blaming her for all the bad luck they'd been having. The little Inuyasha stood up against them, but as he extended his claws, they laughed.
And they laughed.
And they laughed...
End of Flashback
He didn't notice, at first, the warmth around him. He didn't feel the slight pressure of Kagome's hands on his back. But he did hear her sweet words. They resounded in his head a million times, splitting into shards, sharp shards that pierced his heart.
"I'm sorry... I... I didn't know..."
He felt a rage then, a terrible rage that had nothing to do with Kagome. Inuyasha knew he shouldn't have done what he did then. He knew he shouldn't have spoken those words.
But his rage took over his motions.
Inuyasha jerked suddenly, and pushed Kagome away from him roughly. As she fell to the ground, the girl looked... hurt. It pierced Inuyasha's heart... but it was too late now.
"You didn't know a lot of things!" He shouted, before whirling around and limping away.
As Inuyasha vanished in the trees, Kagome lay on the ground, tears threatening to spill, wondering how the day could have began so wonderfully and ended so... terribly.
Whew... that took me a while. Excuse the shortness, and the long time it took me to write this. Sorry!!! Summer vacation's starting soon... no school or homework... so I'll try to update more often!