Brief Moments

By Mishi

Chapter 15

What is Locked Within

Ran Yasha – He is one of Karen's enemies. I have written him as a Yasha, but his character is based on a demon of Indian-Hindu folklore called Rakshasa. I do actually mean demon on this one. This is a creature that terrorizes humans. It hunts in remote places like forests and islands. It is mostly associated with a tiger, but it can take many forms. It will kill a human for pleasure and feed on its flesh. Pain is a big turn on for this monster.

Yumeko- The name that I have given to Kagome's mother.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken voice rang out with great joy as he jumped up and waddled towards his master.

Jaken's voice had shot through Sango like a bullet through the heart. She had been fending off the need to be sick while waiting for Miroku to return with Shippo. Nausea was increasingly becoming a daily occurrence for Sango. She couldn't help but wonder if she was under too much stress herself.

"You look ill," Sesshoumaru uttered, noticing that Sango looked pale.

Sango was completely taken aback by his unusual interest in her appearance. Sesshoumaru had never been a threat to her or Miroku. Ironically, he had actually helped them several times in the past. However, he wasn't the type to show unnecessary concern for anyone. Recovering from her state of shock, Sango replied, "I'm fine. I'm just tired from worrying about everyone."

"You are so attached to them that you feel ill when they are facing difficulty? Then that is normal for all humans, I take it?"

"Usually," Sango answered.

"Why such strange questions?" Jaken thought aloud.

Only moving his eyes, Sesshoumaru looked down at the small youkai, who had been groveling at his feet like a dog begging attention.

Jaken's mouth fell opened with the knowledge that he should've kept his question to himself. "Sesshoumaru-sama…I…I …"

Sesshoumaru turned the remainder of his head towards Jaken. The youkai panicked, and losing all concept of what he was trying to say, threw his body to the ground. When Jaken was finally silenced, Sesshoumaru turned away, and moved closer to the spot where his brother was resting with Kagome.

"Inu Yasha, Karen wishes to speak with you." Sesshoumaru announced, shaking the couple from their sleep.

'This guy is so indignant. He has to be the king of subtlety!' Sango said to herself.

Inu Yasha and Kagome sat up at the same time, both propping themselves on one arm, while letting all their weight rest on one hip. They were very hesitant to remove themselves from the comfort of the sleeping bag, and though their upper bodies were free of it, their legs were still covered.

"Why you? Why didn't she come herself?" Inu Yasha questioned as he rubbed his eyes.

"She is speaking with Rin."

Inu Yasha pushed the sleeping bag from his legs and rose.

"She wants the human to be with you."

"She's my wife, Sesshoumaru. Her name is Kagome," He commented irritably.

"Spoken like a true human," Sesshoumaru taunted him arrogantly.

Kagome was on her feet and tugging at Inu Yasha's sleeve to keep him calm.

"Whatever," Inu Yasha growled, "my mate. Just call her Kagome next time, unless you want me to beat her name into your head?"

Kagome pulled on Inu Yasha's arm with greater force, and Sesshoumaru, letting it drop, began walking towards the trees. Inu Yasha grumbled, but followed with Kagome at his side. She had let go of his arm and taken his hand.

Jaken had begun to follow after Sesshoumaru but was stopped by his master's words, "You are to remain here, Jaken." Once again, Jaken had been left to pout in the grass.

The three walked in an awkward silence until Inu Yasha grew impatient and blurted out, "How far do we have to go? We've walked a good way into the forest all ready."

"You are so impatient," Sesshoumaru sighed. "I guess it cannot be helped, you were never taught discipline."

Sesshoumaru hadn't meant it as an insult, but Inu Yasha had heard the words in a harsher tone than they had been intended.

"What is your problem with me? I'd love to hear you explain it…just once!" Inu Yasha yelled, coming to a halt which nearly threw Kagome backwards.

Sesshoumaru stopped and faced him. If Inu Yasha wanted to fight, Sesshoumaru was more than willing to humor him. "If you must know, you are crude, undisciplined, and more concerned with humans than your own bloodline."

"What about your human? You seem pretty concerned about her."

"I know the difference between protecting them and bedding them. Perhaps I should explain the difference before you find yourself pinned to another tree."

"Damn you!" Inu Yasha roared and reached for the Tetsusaiga. He pulled it from the scabbard, and with a burst of energy it transformed into the deadly iron fang.

Sesshoumaru, eager to accept the challenge, coolly pulled Toukijin from its place on his hip.

"NO!" Kagome screamed and jumped in front of Inu Yasha. Taking a hold of his kimono, she began to shake him. "No more. I can't take any more rage! Stop it! Please, just stop this," She pleaded, nearly choking on a downpour of tears. Thrusting her face into his chest and throwing her arms around his neck, she continued begging for him to stop.

Deeply frazzled by her unexpected outburst, Inu Yasha dropped his sword. It fell to the ground and returned to normal. It was as if reality had smacked him in the face once again. It no longer mattered that Sesshoumaru was standing before him with Toukijin pointing in his direction. All that mattered was the pain of the woman who was crying out to him. "I'm sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to….I'll stop," he whispered and folded his arms around her.

Sesshoumaru was left dumbstruck as he gazed at the image before him. He could not believe that Inu Yasha had let his defenses down for something so foolish. 'You would let yourself stumble into death just to stop the tears of a mortal woman?' The idea of it was loathsome to him. Yet, the more he watched them, the more his pride nagged at him. A door was being opened within his mind that he was trying to keep closed, at all cost. The mental wall of self hatred and disgust, which had taken years to build, could no longer be kept closed. He could suddenly see himself holding Rin, just as Inu Yasha was holding Kagome. 'Rin! Is this what Karen sees in my future; me mating with a human, and being crippled by her emotions?' He couldn't watch them any longer, he had to turn way. 'He is right in saying I am concerned with her. I am too concerned. I'm already falling into the damned trap that my mother has set.'

It had been the sound of Inu Yasha returning the Tetsusaiga to its scabbard that had saved Sesshoumaru from his anguish. Using the distraction to his advantage, he threw the wall back into place. Keeping his back to them, he suggested, "I could give you distance if you require it. If not, we should continue on."

Kagome climbed onto Inu Yasha's back. He wasn't sure if he trusted Sesshoumaru to innocently lead them to Karen, but he didn't want to upset Kagome again. When she was securely in place, Inu Yasha said, "We don't need it…but I can run with her on my back."

Sesshoumaru allowed himself a quick glance at them and replied, "Fine, we'll run."

Sesshoumaru instantly put distance between himself and the group after reaching their destination. He couldn't bring himself to look at Rin. It was enough that he could see her in his mind. He stood staring at the river as Karen focused her attention on the three who sat quietly at her feet.

Kagome had been sandwiched between Rin and Inu Yasha. She wasn't trying to ignore what Karen was saying, but she couldn't help noticing the power that swirled between Rin and Sesshoumaru. It was like watching a battle between fire and ice. Physically, Sesshoumaru looked as dry and distant as ever, but Kagome could feel the desperation that was eating at him. He was using a great deal energy to keep himself removed from her. As a result, the air was too sexually charged for comfort. After seeing Rin in the new kimono, Kagome understood why the tension was there. Other than how petite the girl was, Rin's appearance wasn't that of a little girl. To be honest, the ribbon in Rin's hair had been the only reminder of the girl she remembered.

For a moment, Kagome wondered if Inu Yasha had noticed what was taking place between Rin and Sesshoumaru. Then she realized that Inu Yasha was to busy tying to block his brother out of his mind. She could see the wall that Inu Yasha was creating with their power. He was guarding himself from his bother, and succeeding because of the link he shared with her.

'I can know all of this just by reading the power around them? Why couldn't I do this before?' That was when she remembered the wind scar. Inu Yasha couldn't see the wind that whirled around youkai until he had been blinded by Sesshoumaru in battle. However, once he had learned to see it, he was able to use the kaze no kizu whenever he wanted. 'All this time…I could see the light of the Shikon shards, and I could feel the youki…I never realized I could see it. That's why I couldn't change it. I didn't know what I was looking for. It was so easy with the shards that I never thought about it.'

With her new knowledge, she looked at Karen. She distinctly got the impression that Karen was hiding something, but she couldn't tell if it was malicious or not. Kagome simply wasn't strong enough to see past her defenses.

It seemed that Rin was the only person in the group who was not fighting or hiding something. Rin's heart was an open book. She was in love with Sesshoumaru and she was trying to melt his heart with all she had. Kagome could clearly see the hints of Sesshoumaru's power and a trace of energy that linked her to the Tenseiga. Still, there was a bit of youki that she couldn't make out. She was sure it was youki, but she couldn't understand why it was there. All she could make out was that Rin wasn't trying to hide the youki. It was like Rin was clueless about it being there.

"Are you ready, Kagome?" Karen asked, pulling Kagome into reality.

Kagome laughed nervously and asked, "Am I ready for what?"

Karen looked at her for a moment, and then smiled. "While you were daydreaming, I was telling Inu Yasha and Rin that you would be teaching them how to scan their power.

"What!" Kagome squeaked, looking up at Karen in panic.

"Kagome, you know what it is you must do. A master can never become a true master, until she gains the ability to pass on her craft. I wish you to teach Rin as I have taught you. She also has the gift, but lacks training."

"But what about Inu Yasha?" Kagome questioned.

"Have you forgotten that he shares your power? This training is also necessary if he is to take your grandfather's place."

"How do you know about that?" Inu Yasha asked in astonishment.

"Karen has the ability to see time, as well as manipulate it. I am sure she has seen your future, and has some grand scheme planned for you," Sesshoumaru said coldly.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"As I have promised earlier, I will explain all tonight. For now, let us keep with the task at hand. I can only help you for so long. You must learn to control your abilities as soon as possible."

"That excuse only will deter their questions for so long," Sesshoumaru added.

"Sesshoumaru, that will be enough!" Karen scolded him.

"How could you be so cold towards your own mother?" Kagome questioned.

Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome with curious eyes. He hadn't expected her to be the one to speak.

"Pay it no mind. He is simply upset over a personal matter," Karen assured them. "Begin with Inu Yasha. Rin will be listening to your instructions. I believe she should be able to perform the scan on her own. Simply observe her, and help only if necessary." Without looking at Sesshoumaru, she commanded with an angry voice, "Sesshoumaru, come with me."

Karen led them to a shaded area and took a seat in the grass. Looking up at Sesshoumaru, she patted the ground next to her with her hand. "You will want to sit as I tell you this."

The belittling action had only encouraged his desire to be rebellious towards her. Snidely, he asked, "Is this about your little talk with, Rin?"

"Defiance will gain you nothing at this point, boy."

He took his place beside her. Looking at the small group that sat just a few yards away, he asked, "Are we far enough from them to have this conversation?"

"Inu Yasha would be the only one of them who could hear it. I am sure his focus will be elsewhere."

"Then be done with it. If you wish me to be your errand boy, I would like to leave as soon as possible."

"Very well, I will get right to the point. Rin's body has suffered more damage than I originally believed. I have no doubt that a yasha was behind the death of her family. I believe the same yasha is responsible for her damage as well. I would gamble anything that the monster was attempting to cover her parentage."