In Chapter Twelve, Kagura came into the mix. She knows that Kikyou is plotting to reclaim her soul. Also, the demon is fully unleashed from Sesshomaru, and he transforms into his demon dog form, all because of his jealousy.
For the record (ahem): I do not own, in whole or in part, any part of the Inuyasha franchise. Nor do I own any of the characters from said franchise that is used forthwith. The following story is solely based on the ramblings of a college student at a boring job and is not to be taken or believed as part of the true Inuyasha saga. That being said, please enjoy my first attempt at fan fiction. Feel free to critique ad nauseum. (Whew!)
Chapter Thirteen – Spies and Lies
Sesshomaru was fighting his demonic urges, wanting to regain control of this match. Inuyasha and his friends were slowly but surely gaining on the demon dog. It is unreasonable of me to fight Inuyasha like this. If I cannot control my baser nature, then I am no better than he is. I mean to have Kagome stay with me, but not like this. On the other hand, I would rather die than let this upstart take something else that I have. While his mind waged war with himself, his body was being attacked on three fronts.
"Miroku, watch out!" Sango yelled as Sesshomaru swiped at the little monk with his enlarged paw. He fell to the ground and his staff rolled out of his reach, into the green mist. The dog saw this as an opportunity to get this troublesome player out of the game. It would be so easy to knock him into the poison and let nature take over. But, something deep inside his head stayed him before he could attack. This is one of Kagome's friends. She speaks very highly of him, even if he does grope her at every opportunity. If he dies, she will never forgive me.
He growled in frustration, and knocked the monk sideways. But, instead of knocking him into the poisonous cloud, he knocked the monk clear to the other side, where he landed with a thump that knocked him out cold. Still, he is one I don' have to worry about.
"You bastard! You'll pay for that!" Inuyasha jumped in between the unconscious monk and his brother. "Wind scar!" He slammed his Tetsusaiga into the ground, and three beams of hot lightning shot out from the blade. Sesshomaru knew that this spelled trouble for him, and he tried to get out of the way. His only sure path was blocked by that annoying demon slayer, Sango. He charged at her, fangs bared and gleaming, intent on getting out of the way of Inuyasha's blade.
Sango was unprepared for the attack, but her years of training in human to demon combat steeled her nerves. She pulled her boomerang off the ground where it had landed from a shot moments ago and readied her weapon. She knew she had only one chance.
"Sango, don't! Get out of the way!" Shippo yelled at the top of his lungs. But, his high pitched voice was not reaching her ears, being blocked by the thunderous rapping of Sesshomaru's claws. He continued his charge unabated.
The lightening of the wind scar almost missed him, but not quite. His tail and the pad of his left hind paw were caught in its path, searing a track through fur and flesh alike. He yelped and hit face first into the ground. Sango barely had time to get out of the way before his huge muzzle slammed into the ground where her feet had previously stood.
"Feh! Take that Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said through ragged chunks of air. He was having a hard time lifting his sword anymore. This has gone on for too long. If we don't finish this soon, I may not be of anymore use. And we are already down to two fighters. Miroku lies unconscious still, Kikyou disappeared not long after the battle began, and Kirara followed after her at Sango's bequest. She and the monk avow that Kikyou is up to no good. But, I really wish that damned cat were here now.
Sesshomaru looked over his wounds. Not too deep, but I definitely will have a hard time running on it. And I could give a damn about my tail right now.
"Enough, Sesshomaru. Playtime is over. Let's finish this!" Inuyasha steeled himself for one more lunge with his blade, putting into it every ounce of strength he could muster. Please let this be quick.
Sango nodded slowly, again raising her boomerang over her head, for a double attack on the demon dog. "No more fighting. Kagome is waiting for us."
Sesshomaru quickly went over his options. The demon slayer or the hanyou? I cannot get them both, but they are close enough that I can at least take out one of them. Sango is Kagome's best friend, and her life means as much to Kagome as does Rin's. On the other hand, killing Inuyasha would make my life a lot less troublesome. Kagome would have no reason to stay by his side. She would no longer be able to compare me to him. As if I have anything in common with that filthy half-breed! He shook his head and quickly stood up, wincing as he tried to put pressure on his injured hind paw. He looked a little awkward, balancing himself wholly on his right side. But, his eyes gleamed with the intent to do some damage on his way out.
As Inuyasha raised the Tetsusaiga as high as he could, the blade gleamed with energy. Sesshomaru took a slight step back, preparing to run at one of his attackers. He could only back up a short way, as the crumbling mountain pass was directly behind him. And, at the very moment that the blade hit the ground and sent electric flames flying, the dog went in for his final lunge.
It was well into the night when Kagome was awakened. She sat bolt upright in Rin's tatami. What in the world was that? She waited, even holding her breath to hear it again. Silence. She listened to the still air for a moment more, sure that she had heard something that sent ice into her soul. It sounded like a ghost. An eerie wail and thumping. I swear I know I am not making it up. All this time I have been here and never had anything disrupt a night's sleep. Well, except for thoughts of
Her reverie was interrupted by another noise. This time, Kagome jumped out from underneath the comforter and softly opened the door. She looked out into the courtyard, seeing nothing but the two trees, the little herb garden, and her room across the way. She gulped down fresh fear, stepped out into the hallway, and looked down the hall. Nothing. She was almost too afraid to look the other way, because if she had actually heard a noise, this was the only way it would have come from. But, the still air brought soft, uneven thumps to her ears, and she immediately turned towards the noise.
She saw a swatch of ethereal white flash at the intersection of halls, and then disappear. Her hand quickly covered her mouth before she screamed. The last thing I want to do is attract a ghost to me. I do not feel like fighting one. Not tonight. But, although her heart was thumping so loudly she knew she would disturb the ghost, something forced her to close the door behind her and follow it.
When Kagome got to the intersection, a strange sight led her to believe that it may not be a ghost after all. Ghosts do not bleed. Do they? She looked up at the sky, because the intersection of halls had no roof, and noticed that the first sound she must have heard was the whatever it was hitting the roof and knocking off a shingle. She found proof enough of that on the ground in a hundred pieces. That was also where the first stain of blood was. It must have whimpered. That was the wail I heard. Get a grip, Kagome. There are no ghosts here. Just a wounded animal. She ran to her room and grabbed a poultice and bandages, which she had long ago made a habit of stockpiling when she had a chance. Even though she was in no danger of wounding herself here, it was a good lesson for Rin to learn. Good thing. This animal looks pretty badly wounded.
She quickly surmised that the soft thumps she had heard were it walking. Or rather, limping. It seemed to be straining to remain upright, because it kept knocking into the wall. A differing set of footprints made her stop suddenly. Wait a minute. I thought it had four feet. She looked behind her where she saw tracks resembling a large quadruped. But in front of her was only a single set of footprints. Much smaller, but still heavily bleeding. What in the world?
As she turned a second time, she finally realized that the first footprints were huge. She had not been seeing whole footprints, but partial ones. Dog prints. "Oh, my God!" She took off running in the direction of Sesshomaru's quarters. Which was the same direction the footprints had gone.
He finally made it to his tree. The tree his father had planted on the event of his birth. The only thing I care to call truly mine at this moment. He grunted in pleasure at finally being able to sit down, but again in pain as he tried to lean against the tree. That damned slayer took a chunk out of my back. It will be days before I will be able to relax backwards. He leaned forward, closing his eyes for a moment as he took internal stock of how badly he was wounded.
Kagome skidded to a halt at the edge of the courtyard. She saw Sesshomaru slumped over, with blood coming from wounds in several places. His left foot was oozing puss and blood, his back was covered in blood, his sleeve was slashed to tatters, and there were several vicious claw marks on his face. "Inuyasha..."
The word instantly brought his head up, fangs bared in defense. He saw Kagome, sleep-mussed hair, whispering the name of his brother. "Sorry to disappoint you, but it is not my brother on whom you are looking."
She shook her head, not knowing what he was talking about. She walked cautiously up to him. "Did... did he do this to you?"
He laughed, but winced slightly from the pain that came with it. "Don't be ridiculous. It took the other two to do this to me. Inuyasha alone doesn't hold a candle to me."
You can say that twice and mean it... Stop that! Here he is, heavily injured, and all you can think of is how relieved you actually are that he is here at all. She pushed all thoughts out of her head as she came up beside him and knelt down.
Sesshomaru thought for a moment that she was actually glad to see him, coming to be with him. But, that was soon proven wrong as she laid out the poultice and bandages that she had been carrying. "Let me see to these wounds."
"I do not need your help, woman!"
"Yes, you do." It is just like talking to Inuyasha.
"I heal quicker than you do. I need no bandages."
"You heal quick, but not quick enough. You will be in pain until you do. This will lessen the pain and make you heal even faster. Or would you rather be in pain for a few days?"
He smiled at her attitude. He thought about it for a moment. That is what the herb garden is for. And I believe I rather like the thought of her touching me. Even if it is because she feels obligated to. But his reply was a little more harsh than he intended because of that last thought when he answered. "Right. Be quick about it."
She stood up in a huff and went towards the hallway. He thought she had decided to leave him to his wounds, but she stopped and turned around. He did notice that there was a slight stain to her cheeks, which made him smile inwardly. "I am going to fetch water to clean those wounds. It looks as if your foot needs it. When I return, I want to see that shirt off so I can get to work. What's left of it, anyway." And she ran in the direction of the baths.
Sesshomaru smiled at the embarrassment she had felt when she said that. I know exactly what she was thinking about. The last time I took my shirt off... "Ow!" He could barely lift his arm, because it pulled at the tear on his back.
Kagome raced back to where he sat, water sloshing from the basin she had filled. "What? Are you alright?"
"I believe it will be a while before I will be alright." I may never feel the same way again.
She breathed out, not realizing until then that she had held her breath when she ran in. She resumed her seat beside him, putting the water down and helping slide the torn shirt off. "Oh my God..." she whispered, seeing the amount of lacerations that adorned his arm and back.
"It is already healing. The wounds on my arm have stopped bleeding." This was said automatically, when he saw the look on her face. She looked to him as if she were in pain. I feel this need to calm her, when I am the one who is wounded. He grunted as she applied a cold wet cloth to his arm and began to rub the grime away. Although, I must say this feels a hell of a lot nicer than doing it myself. Or having Jaken help me.
An involuntary shiver went through his body at the thought the one and only time Jaken had helped him recover. Thank goodness he never tried to do that again. He did more harm than good. "Are you alright? Am I scrubbing too hard?"
He didn't even look at her. "No." He didn't want to see what was in his eyes. It certainly wasn't pain. Not pain that could be cured by a poultice.
It wasn't until she was working on his back that she managed to work up he courage to ask him what was plaguing her mind. "My friends did this to you." She decided to start it with a statement and work her way over to the pertinent information.
"Yes."
"And what did you do to them?"
She saw him visibly stiffen. She raised the cloth from his back, thinking that she had hurt him. But, he didn't relax. She cleansed the cloth out in the water before speaking again. "Please tell me what happened."
You happened. You and your damn powers. I wish I had never laid eyes on you. "Why?"
She started to tear, her heart sending conflicting signals to her brain. "I need to know..."
"What happened to Inuyasha?"
The harshness of his tone made her drop back into the water, splashing him. He thought she was getting angry. "To all of them. They are my friends after all."
"And what if I told you that I killed them?" He knew he was prodding her, but he couldn't stop himself.
She sniffled. "If you were defending yourself, I would understand." She choked on the words.
Sesshomaru turned to the side, and saw that she was silently crying. Damn him. "I mean, I know you don't like them, but they are my friends..." She couldn't finish the statement. Instead, she returned to washing the clotting blood from his back.
They sat in estranged silence for a few moments as he thought about her reactions. "You seem upset."
"Of course I am! They were my friends. You may not have cared for them but I did." She drew in a ragged breath, now working harder on his back. "They shouldn't have attacked you, and I know you had to defend yourself, but I never wanted to see anyone dead."
"You mean you would have rather I died trying to save them than kill them to save myself."
"No! That is not what I meant, nor what I said." She was really crying now. "If they had just come here and found me, they would have seen that you have treated me well. And then they wouldn't have had felt they needed to attack you. Then you wouldn't have had to...defend yourself...and they... wouldn't....have..." She was crying so violently now that she couldn't finish that statement.
Sesshomaru took in a deep breath and tried to calm down. You are pushing her too hard. She cares for all of them, not just Inuyasha. And she didn't want you dead, either. "Calm yourself, Kagome. They are not dead."
She cleared her throat. "You mean, they are alive? All of them?"
"Yes. Inuyasha is safe, for the moment."
She finished cleaning off her back, and was pleased with the results. "You do heal fast. This doesn't look as bad as I feared when it was dirty." She made quick work of bandaging the wound, wrapping around his chest and back several times. She couldn't help the heat that seeped through her abdomen while touching him. Feeling his chest and the muscles of his torso.
She stood up and walked to his foot. It didn't look as bad as it had a few moments ago. She knelt at his feet and began to clean the blood off his foot. She still didn't look him in the eye, even though she could feel that his eyes never left her. "Why did you lie to me?"
"I did not lie."
She looked up, "Yes, you did..."
"No. I said what if. I never said I killed them."
She returned to his foot, perhaps a little too sharply. He winced as she cleaned the cauterized area of the wound, pulling his foot back involuntary. "Why would you even pretend to kill my friends?"
He almost answered with the truth. I needed to know if you would have chosen them over me. "I never pretended. I was making talk while you prodded my wounds."
Instantly contrite. "Keh! Why didn't you tell me? I would have been softer had I known they still hurt you so much."
Sesshomaru didn't know what to say about that. So he described the battle. "I had come upon them at the mountain pass. Inuyasha and I battled for a while, before the monk and the slayer joined him. There were times enough for me to kill them..." He waited until she stopped bandaging his foot and looked up at him. There is fear there, but something else... "But I knew that would cause you pain. I would choose to avoid pain for you if there are alternatives."
Did he just say that he let himself be hurt because he didn't want me to get sad if one of them died? Kagome was speechless. "Inuyasha used the Tetsusaiga's wind scar on me, and Sango blocked the only way out of its path."
She stared at him with interest. He noted with satisfaction that his foot was in her lap, where she was stroking it as if it were a sleeping baby. "What happened next?"
"I couldn't strike down Sango, and the wind scar made hitting Inuyasha impossible at the moment. So, there was only one possible thing left to do."
Kagome thought on it for a moment. He couldn't take down Inuyasha, and he didn't take down Sango out of respect for me. That only left... "You left?"
He nodded. "It was the most prudent thing to do at the time. Let them come to you. They will see that you are unharmed." He leaned a little closer to her, although his outstretched leg was still between them. "And let you explain how you have faired here."
Kagome missed that last little remark, as she was so relieved that he had chosen to leave rather than hurt her friends. He does care about my feelings! She jumped over to him, onto his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. She did not say a word. At least, not for a moment. Then she remembered that she was hugging a bare chested demon. One who she has not been able to keep out of her mind as of late. She pulled back, but his arm kept her fairly close to his face. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...I mean, I didn't mean to hurt you..."
His kiss cut her off before she got any further. She somehow knew it was going to happen, but didn't really seem to mind it this time. His lips moved almost hesitantly against hers, as if gauging her reaction. But, the heat in Kagome's body was growing like a raging wildfire, and his body was barely touching hers. Just his lips, his hand, and the heat of his lap underneath her. She sighed into his mouth.
It seemed to be the sign he was waiting for, because the pressure on her lips became a lot more urgent, a lot more demanding. Sesshomaru bent over her, bending her a little backwards, making her push back into him. His tongue moved sensually into her mouth, playing with hers. Kagome was vaguely aware of movements under her. He was lifting her up into his embrace, off his lap. A few movements has her sitting in front of him. Then, he again was pressing into her embrace, and again waiting for her response.
Kagome knew what he was asking of her. What he wanted to do. And something inside of her tried to remind her of all the reasons not to. They simply just made no sense anymore. Not when she was with him. She lowered herself to the ground, making sure that he followed by wrapping her hands in his silvery hair.
His lips began to move over her lips, her chin, her cheek. His tongue played with her ear, making her shake with pleasure. He was kneeling above her, his mouth kissing her ear while he was making quick work of what little clothing was still between them. The loss of her kimono again she barely noticed. Not until she felt the incredible warmth of his hand roaming on her belly as he caressed his way down to his thigh. Even this didn't bother her anymore. Nothing will bother me now. Only this. This is all I want. Now.
As his lips began to inflict pleasure on her neck, Kagome felt the need to express what she was feeling. "Please don't leave me this time, Sesshomaru. I don't think I can take it again."
Stopping his foray into the sensitive area at the hollow of her throat, Sesshomaru looked up to see the serious of her words. She was leaning back, afraid to look him in the eyes again. This will never do. "Kagome, look at me."
She twisted her head back and forth, afraid to see whether or not he needed her there, or needed release. He waited for a moment for her to look at him, then lightly pinched her thigh. Kagome gasped and looked at him, directly above her.
"I will never leave you again. It was a mistake to leave, which I have regretted ever since."
The words were so soft that she was not sure they were even said. But, the look in his eyes was more than enough for her. The pure passion in those golden eyes spoke volumes. She moaned his name and brought his head back to hers and kissed him with all the passion she felt in her heart.
Above them, the moon shone brightly, and all the stars were out to view. Kagura landed on the roof of the wing moments ago, and was captivated by the scene taking place below her. She felt an odd twinge of satisfaction in the voyeurism she was doing. The high and mighty Lord of the Western Lands felled by a girl. A silly miko. A part of her was insanely jealous, having decided that she wanted Sesshomaru all for himself. That bitch has ruined him. Ruined him!
The small part in her that was still loyal to Naraku was allowed to be in charge today. And she took in everything she was seeing below her. A plan formulated in her mind for a little petty revenge. If there is time tomorrow, I aim to have a little fun.
The intimate scene below of the two lovers made her blood boil, but it was also valuable information that could be used in her master's benefit. She silently left the pair to their lovemaking, and returned to her accomplice heading up the knoll.
"Lady Kikyou. You must turn back."
Kikyou stopped mid-stride, surrounded by three silvery soul catchers about to go out and hunt for her food. "What is this? You tell me how to get what I want and now you won't let me in?"
"I have a better idea. You know that Kagome is perfectly happy to stay here, don't you?"
She took a deep breath to still anger rising up within her at the thought of Kagome's happiness. "Yes. I can here it in the melody of her soul. My soul."
"Why not use that as fuel for Inuyasha's inner beast? She is with Sesshomaru now, making it impossible for you to get to anyone in the castle. But if you use your puppy as bait, Sesshomaru will again go after him."
Kikyou thought on it for a second. "Interesting. I thought for sure that at least one of them would be dead. How is it that both are still alive?"
Kagura laughed. "Sesshomaru has developed a conscience. He could not kill Kagome's friends. This should make for an interesting battle, no?"
Kikyou agreed with Kagura, but was not about to join in the fun. She was the courier of another of her enemies. "I will return here tomorrow. With Inuyasha." With that, she purposefully walked down the hill, leaving Kagura alone. Again.
A slight, familiar chill crept up her spine, as inky blackness covered the bright stars. "You have exceeded my expectations Kagura."
She turned to him, holding back the bile at the sight of him. "I only aim to serve. The battle will take place tomorrow. Those who survive will be too tired to fight us. It will be quick and easy work for us then. You have nothing to worry about, Naraku."
He smiled. "I never worry."
Coming soon – Chapter Fourteen – The Beginning of the End
Sango and Shippo sneak into Sesshomaru's castle to let the others in. Sesshomaru knows this and decides the fate of his own companions. Kikyou acts on her plot against Kagome, and Kagura enlists the aid of an ally.