Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Suichiro's body twitched and convulsed as Kagura reached for the letter in his hand. She stopped and released her command from his mind. The jewel stopped its assault. 'Curious.' Kagura thought. 'The jewel must react to the lady's commands. If I read the letter, I may actually kill him. But, if he actually is killed, his body will be released from its hold, I can get the letter, and I cannot be blamed. Where is Inuyasha when you need him?' She threw her magic into the wind and felt his presence not far away. "Get up." Suichiro complied. "Kanna, we'll be taking him to Inuyasha. Once he is dead, then we will return." Kagura looked down at Kanna, only to see her staring into the mirror once more. The picture was veiled from Kagura.
"If that is the path you choose, I will not stop you." Kanna said softly. Kagura looked quizzically at Kanna.
"What do you mean?"
"The path of the future is unclear. If you follow this course, the decision lies between two warring entities." Kagura considered her decision more carefully. But the command she had been given won out and she turned towards where she sensed Inuyasha.
"Go to Inuyasha. Fight him. Do not use you full strength." Kagura commanded Suichiro. He ran off in Inuyasha's direction.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
"Something's approaching quickly." Sesshoumaru said. It was the next afternoon and they had been traveling all day. "It's the kitsune who kidnapped you yesterday, Kagome."
"Why would he be so foolish as to come back?" Sango mused.
"Well, he may have been ordered to try to kidnap Kagome again." Miroku answered. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha moved closer to Kagome. Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga. Suichiro ran into the clearing and attacked Inuyasha. His effort was cut in half by Kagura's command. The jewel did not prohibit his fighting, so long as he kept it quick. Using half his strength would not make it quick. The jewel zapped him lightly to remind him of this. He used more of his strength, fighting against Kagura's will. Inuyasha had the upper hand.
"But, yesterday, you guys couldn't defeat him." Kagome said.
"Something is different. I do not know what, though." Sesshoumaru said. Kirara sniffed.
"I smell Naraku on him. And blood," she said.
"Look at his back." Miroku said. His wounds from his whipping were re- opening as he fought.
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha shouted as he swung the Tetsusaiga. It grazed Suichiro's side and he fell to the ground. "Now, why are you here? Why are you trying to kidnap Kagome." Suichiro looked up at Inuyasha, his eyes panicked.
"Do not let them have me. Kill me and burn the letter. Please!" he begged. Everyone started in surprise. The jewel flared to life and Kagura's magic screamed in his mind. He cried out in pain. His wounds started gushing blood. White foam mixed with it.
"Kagura's Dance of the Dead!" Miroku shouted over Suichiro's screams.
"We have to help him!" Kagome shouted. Kagura and Kanna stepped into the clearing.
"And how would you propose to do that?" Kagura asked with a sneer. Kanna stepped away from Kagura and towards Kagome.
"Kagome, look into my mirror." Kanna said. She didn't turn it, just held it out. Kagome looked into it and gasped at what she saw.
~#The Mirror#~
Suichiro knelt at a dragon's feet. He was torn and bloody. "Try what you like, I will never tell you the way into Lord Inutaisho's castle." Suichiro yelled. He spat at the dragon's feet.
"Insolent filth!" the dragon screamed. He spit fire at Suichiro.
"Stop!" a voice yelled. Kagome could almost recognize it. "We can still use him."
"How?" A hand stretched forth. A small jewel lay in its open palm.
"We control him with this. We need to weaken Inutaisho from the inside. The best way to do that is through his heart."
"How do you propose we do that? He has a mate who is rumored to be fiercely loyal."
"We take her out of the picture."
"No! Leave Lady Hiromi out of this!" Suichiro yelled. He strained to get up, but fell to the ground, too weak to stand.
"Ah, it seems we have hit a soft spot," the dragon said. He grinned maliciously. "Tell us how to get in his castle and defeat him and we might find a place for her in our plans."
"Lord Inutaisho cannot be defeated by the likes of you!"
"That is enough! We will do this my way," the voice said. The voice was that of a lady's. The jewel lifted up off her palm and embedded itself in Suichiro's forehead.
~# the mirror #~
Kagome lurched backwards and fell on her butt. Miroku had tried to attack Kanna, breaking Kanna's concentration. Kanna moved back to Kagura. "Kagome, are you all right?" Miroku asked. Kagome nodded and climbed to her feet.
"The jewel on his forehead is controlling him!" she yelled.
"Well, whattaya want me to do about it!" Inuyasha yelled back.
"Get rid of it!"
"It is impossible." Suichiro struggled to say. Kagome strung an arrow and pointed it towards Kanna.
"Release his soul, Kanna, or I'll break your mirror." Kagura growled angrily as Kanna turned the mirror the opposite direction. Suichiro's soul spilled out. Sesshoumaru attacked Kagura as she raised her fan. She could barely fend him off for long enough to draw out her feather. Her and Kanna rode away on it. Suichiro lay on the ground in a growing puddle of blood. Kagome ran over to him, ignoring Inuyasha's protest and Sesshoumaru's advice to use caution. She pressed her hands to his side to stop the blood flow. The jewel had stopped its assault. She concentrated on her miko powers, trying to heal him like she had yesterday. Tomoyo's teaching came back to her and her hands started to glow. The wounds on his side and back started to heal. Pink light shone from the small crack in the jewel, lengthening it. The crack was hair thin and invisible unless you were really looking for it. It split the jewel in half. Suichiro blinked and sat up.
"What? How?" he asked softly, looking wide-eyed at Kagome.
"It worked! I did it!" Inuyasha still eyed him suspiciously.
"How do we know we can trust him?" he asked.
"Because I destroyed the jewel's influence over."
"Suichiro is my name." Suichiro supplied.
"Suichiro." Kagome nodded.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome sighed huffily and nodded. Suichiro finally realized who else was standing there.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," he said. He kneeled in front of Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru watched him in confusion.
"How do I know you?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"I was your father's vassal. Do you not remember?"
"I cannot remember much." Suichiro started, surprised, then sighed.
"It is of no matter. My lord, I failed in the service of your father, but still I pledge my life to you if you will accept it."
"Stand. I accept." Suichiro stood. The group got a look at the real Suichiro, not the panicked or controlled Suichiro. He turned to look at them.
" I thank you, miko-san. If it were not for you, I would still be under the lady's control." He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her fingers softly. Kagome blushed scarlet and Inuyasha growled. Sesshoumaru swallowed his growl, inwardly yelling for Suichiro daring to touch her, let alone kiss her. "If you ever have need of anything, I will do everything in my power to do it for you." Kagome smiled and ducked her head.
"Oh, he's good. Miroku said. Sango giggled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tami: How's that for a chapter! I did all that on Sunday, just for ya'll. ^_^ I have a contest for you guys. If you can draw me Kirara's human form, Tomoyo, or Suichiro, and you win, I'll e-mail you the chapter before I post it and you'll get the first chapter of the story about Sesshoumaru's past, if you want it. Sorry, I don't have time to do review responses. I'll do 'em next time. Promise.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Suichiro's body twitched and convulsed as Kagura reached for the letter in his hand. She stopped and released her command from his mind. The jewel stopped its assault. 'Curious.' Kagura thought. 'The jewel must react to the lady's commands. If I read the letter, I may actually kill him. But, if he actually is killed, his body will be released from its hold, I can get the letter, and I cannot be blamed. Where is Inuyasha when you need him?' She threw her magic into the wind and felt his presence not far away. "Get up." Suichiro complied. "Kanna, we'll be taking him to Inuyasha. Once he is dead, then we will return." Kagura looked down at Kanna, only to see her staring into the mirror once more. The picture was veiled from Kagura.
"If that is the path you choose, I will not stop you." Kanna said softly. Kagura looked quizzically at Kanna.
"What do you mean?"
"The path of the future is unclear. If you follow this course, the decision lies between two warring entities." Kagura considered her decision more carefully. But the command she had been given won out and she turned towards where she sensed Inuyasha.
"Go to Inuyasha. Fight him. Do not use you full strength." Kagura commanded Suichiro. He ran off in Inuyasha's direction.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
"Something's approaching quickly." Sesshoumaru said. It was the next afternoon and they had been traveling all day. "It's the kitsune who kidnapped you yesterday, Kagome."
"Why would he be so foolish as to come back?" Sango mused.
"Well, he may have been ordered to try to kidnap Kagome again." Miroku answered. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha moved closer to Kagome. Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga. Suichiro ran into the clearing and attacked Inuyasha. His effort was cut in half by Kagura's command. The jewel did not prohibit his fighting, so long as he kept it quick. Using half his strength would not make it quick. The jewel zapped him lightly to remind him of this. He used more of his strength, fighting against Kagura's will. Inuyasha had the upper hand.
"But, yesterday, you guys couldn't defeat him." Kagome said.
"Something is different. I do not know what, though." Sesshoumaru said. Kirara sniffed.
"I smell Naraku on him. And blood," she said.
"Look at his back." Miroku said. His wounds from his whipping were re- opening as he fought.
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha shouted as he swung the Tetsusaiga. It grazed Suichiro's side and he fell to the ground. "Now, why are you here? Why are you trying to kidnap Kagome." Suichiro looked up at Inuyasha, his eyes panicked.
"Do not let them have me. Kill me and burn the letter. Please!" he begged. Everyone started in surprise. The jewel flared to life and Kagura's magic screamed in his mind. He cried out in pain. His wounds started gushing blood. White foam mixed with it.
"Kagura's Dance of the Dead!" Miroku shouted over Suichiro's screams.
"We have to help him!" Kagome shouted. Kagura and Kanna stepped into the clearing.
"And how would you propose to do that?" Kagura asked with a sneer. Kanna stepped away from Kagura and towards Kagome.
"Kagome, look into my mirror." Kanna said. She didn't turn it, just held it out. Kagome looked into it and gasped at what she saw.
~#The Mirror#~
Suichiro knelt at a dragon's feet. He was torn and bloody. "Try what you like, I will never tell you the way into Lord Inutaisho's castle." Suichiro yelled. He spat at the dragon's feet.
"Insolent filth!" the dragon screamed. He spit fire at Suichiro.
"Stop!" a voice yelled. Kagome could almost recognize it. "We can still use him."
"How?" A hand stretched forth. A small jewel lay in its open palm.
"We control him with this. We need to weaken Inutaisho from the inside. The best way to do that is through his heart."
"How do you propose we do that? He has a mate who is rumored to be fiercely loyal."
"We take her out of the picture."
"No! Leave Lady Hiromi out of this!" Suichiro yelled. He strained to get up, but fell to the ground, too weak to stand.
"Ah, it seems we have hit a soft spot," the dragon said. He grinned maliciously. "Tell us how to get in his castle and defeat him and we might find a place for her in our plans."
"Lord Inutaisho cannot be defeated by the likes of you!"
"That is enough! We will do this my way," the voice said. The voice was that of a lady's. The jewel lifted up off her palm and embedded itself in Suichiro's forehead.
~# the mirror #~
Kagome lurched backwards and fell on her butt. Miroku had tried to attack Kanna, breaking Kanna's concentration. Kanna moved back to Kagura. "Kagome, are you all right?" Miroku asked. Kagome nodded and climbed to her feet.
"The jewel on his forehead is controlling him!" she yelled.
"Well, whattaya want me to do about it!" Inuyasha yelled back.
"Get rid of it!"
"It is impossible." Suichiro struggled to say. Kagome strung an arrow and pointed it towards Kanna.
"Release his soul, Kanna, or I'll break your mirror." Kagura growled angrily as Kanna turned the mirror the opposite direction. Suichiro's soul spilled out. Sesshoumaru attacked Kagura as she raised her fan. She could barely fend him off for long enough to draw out her feather. Her and Kanna rode away on it. Suichiro lay on the ground in a growing puddle of blood. Kagome ran over to him, ignoring Inuyasha's protest and Sesshoumaru's advice to use caution. She pressed her hands to his side to stop the blood flow. The jewel had stopped its assault. She concentrated on her miko powers, trying to heal him like she had yesterday. Tomoyo's teaching came back to her and her hands started to glow. The wounds on his side and back started to heal. Pink light shone from the small crack in the jewel, lengthening it. The crack was hair thin and invisible unless you were really looking for it. It split the jewel in half. Suichiro blinked and sat up.
"What? How?" he asked softly, looking wide-eyed at Kagome.
"It worked! I did it!" Inuyasha still eyed him suspiciously.
"How do we know we can trust him?" he asked.
"Because I destroyed the jewel's influence over."
"Suichiro is my name." Suichiro supplied.
"Suichiro." Kagome nodded.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome sighed huffily and nodded. Suichiro finally realized who else was standing there.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," he said. He kneeled in front of Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru watched him in confusion.
"How do I know you?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"I was your father's vassal. Do you not remember?"
"I cannot remember much." Suichiro started, surprised, then sighed.
"It is of no matter. My lord, I failed in the service of your father, but still I pledge my life to you if you will accept it."
"Stand. I accept." Suichiro stood. The group got a look at the real Suichiro, not the panicked or controlled Suichiro. He turned to look at them.
" I thank you, miko-san. If it were not for you, I would still be under the lady's control." He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her fingers softly. Kagome blushed scarlet and Inuyasha growled. Sesshoumaru swallowed his growl, inwardly yelling for Suichiro daring to touch her, let alone kiss her. "If you ever have need of anything, I will do everything in my power to do it for you." Kagome smiled and ducked her head.
"Oh, he's good. Miroku said. Sango giggled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tami: How's that for a chapter! I did all that on Sunday, just for ya'll. ^_^ I have a contest for you guys. If you can draw me Kirara's human form, Tomoyo, or Suichiro, and you win, I'll e-mail you the chapter before I post it and you'll get the first chapter of the story about Sesshoumaru's past, if you want it. Sorry, I don't have time to do review responses. I'll do 'em next time. Promise.