A/N: This is being posted because AKA Hummer made me feel guilty. xP This explains a lot, but it also might confuse you guys (err... girls?)... I'm pretty sure it makes the plot more complicated, but then... I am the writer... –I wrote this spur-ish of the moment--
Etsudoku Yukai!
Chapter V
What happened after Kagome passed out:
"What the hell happened to Kagome?" InuYasha screamed out, completely flustered as he gazed at the unconscious girl nestled in the crook of his brother's restored arms. And I worked so hard to cut that arm off... He glared up at Sesshoumaru when, the only thing he did was 'hn' in response. InuYasha growled lowly. "Drop her, jackass."
"And you would want precious cargo destroyed, half-breed?" The full demon questioned in a dark sneer, glaring for all he was worth. This young human held the power to destroy the world nestled into her fingertips and his dear little brother wanted to have him risk dropping her? He truly was uneducated.
"I'll risk it if you get your damn hands off of her," the half demon huffed out, crossing his arms in his trademark pose.
"And what happened to that respectable tone you showed to Kagome earlier at the clearing? I had believed you were growing up, no longer a cowardice whelp with no common sense."
InuYasha growled back, the sound resounding through his chest. For a while Sesshoumaru thought the boy was incapable of responding, but soon he got a reaction. "I am growing up, Sesshoumaru. You're too busy being full of yourself to notice what goes on around you. For example, you're coated in a young human woman's scent, a priestess; and you look like you'll die if your skin isn't in contact with hers."
The demon lord's back stiffened slightly in response and the girl in his arms stirred, shifting to press her left cheek into his tail which was serving as her pillow. "That is of no importance to me; I am a lord of the four ancient lands. I do not-"
"Oh, give it up, Sesshoumaru. It bothers you that I noticed those things, and that I mentioned them out loud and if you'd only realize how moronic you look, you'd probably drop dead. So I'll just say this one more time: Put Kagome down now or-" InuYasha was cut off by Kaede.
"InuYasha, ye would do well to close your mouth and refrain from speaking so outright. He has protected her from perhaps a concussion or falling into a comatose state," the elder woman's voice pierced the air.
InuYasha just growled again.
"She is important, priestess," Sesshoumaru commented to Kaede as he stared blankly down at the young woman in his arms.
"Yeah, she's important, so put her in Kaede's hut and take your brat and scram," the half demon snarled. The vehemence was there as plain as day.
"InuYasha, when I deem something of importance, I do not relinquish my hold upon it."
"Kagome's not an 'it' so get lost." InuYasha bared his teeth as a warning, but the lord paid no heed.
"I never imposed that Kagome was an 'it'. I was merely stating that someone or something may be important enough for me to not relinquish my hold; my authority and commanding power."
"Oh, please," InuYasha snorted out. "Don't be so high and mighty Sesshoumaru. Just because you rule the Western Lands, it doesn't mean you rule Kagome, so hand 'er over." The half demon's voice was so firm in spite against his brother; Sesshoumaru could taste the hidden malice.
And of course InuYasha would be jealous, Sesshoumaru thought. InuYasha had found his wench- Kagome- sitting on the full demon's lap. Obviously, something had gone awry in his brother's and the priestess's relationship, as well as the span from when he had helped the shard hunters defeat Naraku, for her to trust a full blooded killing machine. The killing perfection, the dog demon thought arrogantly.
"You are in no position, status of society, or intelligence to order me around, InuYasha. I suggest you forfeit this pointless conquest of yours." At this point, the demon lord had turned away from a fuming InuYasha. An obvious snubbing was what Sesshoumaru thought the younger dog demon needed, but it only infuriated him more. "Let this Sesshoumaru handle the unconscious Kagome. Leave."
InuYasha growled as he stood his ground. "I won't leave you alone with her. Your intentions always have a double meaning; that would mean you're putting Kagome in danger. And don't call her by her first name- you don't have a right to. You get to call her Priestess of the Future... or Priestess of Edo. Your choice..." The young man huffed.
"Be quiet, InuYasha."
"But I'm giving you an option, big brother, so make your choice but I want you to leave when you drop Kagome off in Kaede's hut."
The demon lord stopped again; he had been not but ten feet away when he let InuYasha's words sink in. Leave... her? No, I shall not. I am ruled by none. "You shall cease speaking to me on this matter. I will watch over her for the time being." When Sesshoumaru continued walking, he waited for the half-breed to speak up in more protests but was admittedly surprised when he heard a sigh and words that only his ears could hear.
"Will Kagome really be safe with him? Will she be happy in his arms instead of mine?"
-:-
InuYasha was watching his brother's back when he had whispered those words, unaware that the lord could hear him. His eyes widened in surprise when, as Sesshoumaru continued walking, he turned his head and nodded ever-so-slightly before facing forward again and on his steady gait.
His brother had nodded. Was he answering my question? I should be thankful... but that was arrogant, thinking he'll be perfect for her! I thought he hated humans... In the back of his mind, all he could think of was that Sesshoumaru had Rin, and there were those instances of respect that the demon lord had shown to Kagome. Maybe it was possible for them to be happy together...
"I have better things to do, and Shima's in the hut, so she'll tell me if anything happens." His firm resolve led him away from the dirt path near the markets and past the rice fields, carrying him out to the forest. He sighed when he realized where his feet were taking him- the Bone Eater's Well.
It had stayed open through all that had happened in the past. Despite what everyone had thought, once the jewel's wish had been used up, the well stayed open; it was still the link between past and future. InuYasha moved closer to the well, and sat down on its lip, intending to make it a temporary napping place. Positioning his body, he found his gaze heading straight up to the clear blue skies where a lone cloud hovered in his view.
The images formed in his mind's eye, and he, unable to forget, replayed all that he had seen in the past two days. Sesshoumaru, the fierce and cruel demon, holding an unconscious Kagome like she was glass; Kagome, awake and aware, holding his brother's hand while looking up into his eyes; the demon lord and priestess of the future holding hands on the ten minute trip back to the village...
What were the fates doing to his life?
Everything had been simple before Naraku's fall; well, as simple as it could get. He knew Kagome had never been as happy as she should have been but it couldn't be helped. He had Kikyo. Their love was still in existence and as long as that flame had burned, Kagome wouldn't stand a chance. Kagome knew that; InuYasha knew that; Kikyo knew that. But when it came time to strike Naraku, Sesshoumaru was there, helping him and his friends despite what the lord had claimed.
And then, without warning, their relationships had changed.
He envisioned the first time Kagome had stumbled upon a meeting with the undead priestess. The shock and pain on her face... It was the moment that had pushed their rocky friendship off a cliff. For her, InuYasha knew, it was where she was trapped between her duty to the jewel and her duty to her heart.
But he was unable to help her. They could only be friends because of the love that was still present on Earth, revolving around him and Kikyo.
He would never be able to get away from the past...
-:-
With the priestess of the future resting peacefully on a futon up on the wooden planked rise, Sesshoumaru found no reason to stay. They will come to wrongful conclusions not fitting of my person. He continually justified his thoughts as he unknowingly stared at Kagome's sleeping face. A soft rustling emitted from the corner of the hut's main area and broke into the lord's mind; he turned his head in the direction of the sound. What he found surprised him, admittedly slightly.
There a young girl, little older than his Rin, was sitting up and staring at him with blank eyes. To tell the truth, it unnerved him; this almost lifeless being. Why was this young girl here, hiding- sleeping- in the old priestess's hut?
"What happened to Miss Kagome?"
That voice, it was so soft and flowing, in likeness of an ethereal being's. It was what he imagined Kagome's voice sounding like when she was younger, as carefree as he could believe she'd be...
"...She fainted. She will rest here, and you will watch her." From the corner of his eyes, he noticed her small form shiver slightly at his tone.
"Yes, sir."
Shima couldn't believe what she was sensing from this seemingly cold and emotionless demon. That look of slight adoration for her guardian; it was astounding. It was obvious that he didn't care much for her existence, but he did care for Kagome's, and that was obvious. Her eyes followed as his form walked swiftly out through the tatami door to someplace unknown, before sliding over to the unconscious older woman.
Poor Miss Kagome. She must have been under a lot of stress or of similar sorts to pass out. She's never done that before... Not from what Shima knew... What she did know though, was that her adoptive mother had to be healed, and the only way was for her to do the dirty work. No one else had that ability.
She knew something was wrong with her mother's spirit, not her body...
Life-energy and spirit-energy was necessary...
-:-
I can't do this... I'm just so confused right now. What if I've just been imagining the last two days? Shima wouldn't be dying; she didn't do anything in life to deserve it! And I've got to figure everything else out...
This is just the place to do it; it's dark, quiet- I'm okay with that. I need time...
-:-
His thoughts were a mess. Why was he still here in this god-forsaken human village, clinging to a human girl- woman- a priestess, the sworn enemy of his kind? Added to the fact was that the young woman was 'InuYasha's wench,' as she had been dubbed by her enemies. It didn't seem right. Something was wrong; something was shifting, but he couldn't figure it out. Everything was a mess; a jumble of illusions. She couldn't be the real reason why he was here. The young kit demon; he was Rin's new friend. That, of course, was a reason. And using the girl for power was another...
But he was held here; she was casting a spell on him and keeping him on an invisible leash.
Walking past the rows of wooden huts, the demon lord's nose scrunched up barely noticeably from the smell of already dying humans. That smell; they begin to die from the moment of release from their mothers' wombs...
He needed to leave.
And if that wasn't an option, then he had to stay as far away as possible, avoiding eye contact or any unnecessary contact of any sort. She was turning him into one with a weakness for humans- Just like InuYasha... He sneered at the thought. It just wasn't right; he needed time to think, and time to understand what was happening.
It couldn't be those damned 'human traits' called emotions, could it?
As Sesshoumaru moved toward the tree he had claimed his encampment underneath, his retainer came waddling around a hut that blocked his view of the temple path and stairs.
"Milord! Lord Sesshoumaru! You did not wait for this loyal servant!"
The demon did not respond, unwilling to even look at the tiny creature he had saved those many years ago. Jaken was alive, so his existence upon any certain part of the earth made no important matter...
He had better things to think about: Kagome...
And how he needed to acquire his demeaning attitude toward her once more...
It would only be best.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mah ha ha...
I hope everyone enjoyed this...
AND YOU'D ALL BETTER REVIEW! Damn it, review if you've read this chapter, you frickin' lazy bums!