Chapter 24: The Blood
"I will not let him escape unscathed, Kagome. You cannot dissuade me from this." Sesshomaru spoke vehemently, arms crossed in a manner quite similar to that of his deceased brother. Kagome sighed.
"I did not think I would be able to dissuade you, but I had to ask nonetheless….You must see, though, Sesshomaru - there is much you do not know; about this entire situation. Naraku is no longer the -well, the only enemy…"
Kagome paused, considering exactly how she could form into words how she felt about his being involved in her problems…After all, being in her company would only endanger him. Auron would have yet another person to steal from this world, from her…
Kagome closed her eyes, breathing in deeply.
Riku had been absent for three days. He has told them that he was off to find Danika - who had not yet returned with Sol and Danieru. Kagome hadn't exactly missed her elder brother's absence, but she was beginning to grow concerned.
What if Auron chose to attack now? What if they were mistaken in their assumptions? What if his power had already fully returned and Auron was leading them into a trap?
She felt Sesshomaru's strong arms enclose her from behind, and a sudden feeling of warmth washed over her. 'Come what may…he won't leave me now.' She thought, gratefully. Sesshomaru held Kagome to him. As cold and emotionless as he was at times - right now, he wanted nothing more than the pain Kagome felt to cease at last.
"If this other enemy comes, you will still have me beside you." He said, voicing aloud her most prominent concern. Kagome smiled the faintest of smiles. A smile that perfectly conveyed the words she would not speak: "I know."
"And for that, I am eternally grateful." She said, turning herself in Sesshomaru's arms, so that she could properly hug him. Sesshomaru closed his molten amber eyes and nearly sighed. He could not remember the last time he had been so happy. Had he ever?
There was no doubt that he missed Rin and Jaken, but for now - this was what he wanted, what he needed. For too long had his heart lay dormant within, and he knew he could not end this awakening so abruptly.
Sesshomaru needed Kagome as much as she needed him.
But, their embrace was cut short - as the day was growing old and night was creeping it's way into the world around them, they would need to bathe and dress for the cool evening to come.
By the time both had completed such tasks, the night's sky was already lit with millions of tiny, but bright, stars. Sesshomaru had laid out one of Kagome's soft blankets on the ground, the edge of it backing right up against a tree, and the two laid side by side, staring up through the foliage of the trees, to see a few miniscule lights blinking through.
"This seems…almost too good." Kagome said, breaking the silence with her clear voice, "Almost as if….I don't know…as if maybe this can't last…" Sesshomaru smiled a small, wry smile.
"Yes, it can often seem that way in a world as cruel as ours." He said, quietly. Kagome positioned herself closer to Sesshomaru for warmth and sighed.
"Well, I'm exhausted…I think I'll sleep." Kagome muttered after a lengthy silence. Sesshomaru merely nodded in return. He did not mean to, but he began to doze off…Kagome asleep before he could whisper a reply.
Auron had finished muttering the words to the sleeping curse he had placed on Sesshomaru. "Nightmares are positively wonderful, are they not, Lord Sesshomaru of the western lands?" He laughed quietly, a sinister cackle that would cause chills to run up the spine of the bravest man.
"As for you, my beautiful Kagome…That stone was a gift from the very bowels of hell, I'm afraid." He laughed his sinister laugh once more, before descending from the tree in which he was perched. Moving with the dangerous grace of a serpent, Auron made his way to Kagome, kneeling beside her.
One fist was clutching what appeared to be a glowing stone. Smooth and black, it was radiating a strong, pulsating blood-red light. Auron's wicked smile was in place as he pressed the jewel to Kagome's gently rising chest. With her next, slow exhalation, the stone had vanished into her chest.
Auron rose, glancing back at Kagome with a sigh. "Too beautiful for your own good…" Her murmured. Within a moment he was gone, Sesshomaru was no longer sleeping fitfully. The curse had been lifted.
Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open. He was breathing heavily, too heavily to be the norm. He sat directly up, amber eyes wide. Kagome opened her eyes as well, calmly sitting up.
She didn't feel any different.
Sesshomaru glanced at Kagome. "Sesshomaru? What's wrong?" She asked, concernedly. Sesshomaru shook his head. Shrinking back into the reserve he'd known his entire life, he leaned back against the tree, and stared off in the opposite direction of Kagome.
She grabbed his chin with her hand and slowly turned his head to face her. "Don't hide. Not from me, Sesshomaru…" Kagome pleaded, lowering her hand from his face to his hand and grasping it. Sesshomaru frowned.
"When I was a child, my father would train me in various battle skills," Sesshomaru said, calmly, turning away from Kagome again. " The training sessions would be harsh, they would be difficult. But I never once had the courage to ask my father to stop, even for a moment. One day, when I was barely fifteen, I said to my father, after an extremely difficult session, 'Father, why must we train so hard?' He glared at me and said nothing. I asked again. It was at this moment that my father drew his blade. 'Turn around.' He commanded. Immediately, I did as told. My father gave me that scar that day. As I knelt, bleeding on the grass, forcing back tears of pain - he glared down at me and said, before walking away, leaving me to bleed… 'Weakness such as you have shown today will bring you only pain. May that scar on your serve as proof, every single day.'"
Kagome's mouth was open and her eyes filled with pain. "Sesshomaru…" She said, quietly, reaching out to touch him. He avoided her touch and positioned his body away from Kagome.
"Goodnight, Kagome." He said, voice so low it was barely audible. Kagome withdrew her hand. Brows furrowed, eyes tearing.
"Sesshomaru…" She murmured, letting her hand drop to her lap. 'I'm so sorry…' She thought, holding back her own tears - for his sake. He did not reply to her.
"Goodnight, Sesshomaru…"
Mia: -dramatic music plays- ANGST! -even more dramatic music- FLUFF!-cheesy romantic music- What the fuck? -stares at Cresent-
Cresent: What? It's got the mood. -laughs insanely-
Mia: Ahem. Anyhoo….MYSTERY! -x-files theme song plays- …….-stares at Cresent again-…..Well, my point is, this chapter is pulling the plot together - FINALLY!
Everyone except Sesshy: -cheers-
Mia: Well, please review! Thanks!
Cresent: Yep, yep. See you next time.- plays the x-files theme song again-
Mia & Cresent: -dances-