Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted/licensed/trademarked materials mentioned in this fanfiction (from InuYasha to my references to Nine Inch Nails or Harry Potter). They are the properties of their respective copyright holders and I in no way am insinuating that I own them. (Consider it free advertising.) I only own the storyline and any new characters that may crop up.


Chapter Six: Screams in the Night

Sesshomaru really began to give Kagome the third degree the night before the concert. "Get off my back, Sesshomaru! I'm going and that's final!" Kagome protested.

"Kagome, I am only concerned about your safety. What will be happening at this concert?" he inquired.

"Loud music, screaming, jumping, singing, a mosh pit," Kagome listed but then was savagely interrupted by Sesshomaru's impatience.

"Pit? Pit! Why on Earth would you want to go into a pit?"

"It's not like that, Sesshomaru …" but he wasn't listening.

"What is a mosh? Is it poisonous?"

Kagome clapped her hand over her mouth. Her shoulders shook with repressed laughter. She finally couldn't hold back and she exploded with peals of laughter.

"Why are you laughing?" Sesshomaru asked, more irritated than before.

Kagome rolled on the floor, "Ha! Ha ha ha ha! Sh-Shippo, he hee hee hee ha ha ha, get-get me your crayons and paper. Ha ha ha ha!"

Shippo soon returned with his crayons and drawing pad then handed them to Kagome. Sesshomaru looked absolutely insulted. Kagome, still fighting off fits of laughter, opened Shippo's drawing pad to a clean page. She grabbed a crayon and started to doodle. After about fifteen minutes, Kagome held up her masterpiece. It was a stage with lights and a band playing on it. In front of said stage was a large group of stick people. Some were yelling with their fists in the air, others jumping around, some kicking and punching, others were crowd surfing, and some stick figures stood around the group with stern expressions and their arms folded over their chest. "This," she told Sesshomaru, "Is a mosh pit: an area in front of the stage where people can go crazy. There are security guards to break up the mayhem if it gets out of control."

Sesshomaru looked livid as she spelled things out for him, and a slight hint of pink marred his cheeks due to his exasperation. "Fine, but how can these guards watch over so many?"

"Sesshomaru!" she whined while pulling her hair. He's infuriating! I'm so tempted to shout at him "You're not my mother!" I guess I'll have to go one step further to spell it out for him . . . She spoke in a mockingly calm and slow voice, "I'll-be-fine. Megami's-brother-is-going-with-us."

"Very well. Just be careful." And he dropped the subject out of sheer irritation.

The next night Megami's Suburban pulled up and Kagome ran out the door with her hair pulled into a high pony tail. She wore her Nine Inch Nails baby-tee, black skirt, and leather boots from Megami. Chiaki called after her daughter, "Be home by two!"

"Okay! Bye, Mom!"

Chiaki watched her daughter run down the steps to the awaiting vehicle. I'm so glad that Kagome is finally getting out and having some fun. She has been working so very hard … I can hope that maybe for just tonight she can forget all the horrible things she has witnessed and just be a teenager for a change.

Kagome climbed into the Suburban and greeted Megami and Senkotsuke. Senkotsuke moved the shifter into gear and merged back into the street. They pulled into the event parking lot about twenty minutes later, and Senkotsuke received some bad news.

"What do you mean I have to pay for two parking spaces? It's only one vehicle!"

"Yes, sir," the parking attendant muttered, "but it is considered an oversize vehicle and must purchase two spaces."

Senkotsuke pulled more Yen from his pocket and paid for the extra parking. He grumbled under his breath all the while, "Bloodsuckers … utter bullshit … By Kami!"

Kagome and Megami giggled. Senkotsuke found two empty spaces and used them. "Make me pay for two spaces …" he continued to gripe as he turned the engine off. They all climbed out of the vehicle and Megami turned to Kagome with a bright expression, "Just you wait, Kagome! This will be the greatest musical experience of your life!"


Megami wasn't kidding. Kagome was blown away and enslaved by the music. She and Megami pounded their fists in the air and screamed with the release only a great rock concert can bring. Trouble only arose once. Halfway through the song "Closer" a guy came up behind the girls.

"Hello, ladies. Enjoying the music?" he asked with a predator-like grin.

Kagome tried to be nice, but Megami, smelling him for what he was, gave him the "Roseanne" glare (Roseanne's patented "Lip curl, nostril flare, and half-a squint.") Megami took Kagome's hand, "Come on." She turned to lead Kagome away, but Mr. Hormone-Driven stepped in their way.

"Come on, now. There's no reason to be like that," and he grabbed Kagome in very inappropriate places.

Kagome shrieked. Megami had her fist drawn back, loaded and aimed, when Senkotsuke came out of nowhere and grabbed the offender. "Trying to take what's not yours? Not from my sister's friend!" Senkotsuke dragged the man away.

"What is your brother doing?" Kagome asked.

"Either taking him to security, or beating the unholy, living shit out of him," Megami shrugged, "Probably beating him to a pulp."

After witnessing that spectacle the men in the mosh pit cleared Kagome and Megami a wide path.

The concert ended around midnight and it took Senkotsuke an hour to reach the Higurashi Shrine. "I hope your mother isn't upset, Kagome. I got you home as soon as I could," Senkotsuke said apologetically after fighting post-concert traffic.

"It's okay. I had until two."

"Aww, we could have spent more time together!" Megami said.

"It's all right," Kagome smiled, "We'll have plenty of time to hang out after our tests next week." She leaned across the seat and gave Megami a great, big hug. "Thank you so much, Megami! That's the most fun I've had in years!"

Megami returned the hug, "Don't mention it. Get some rest. We'll have tons of studying to do."

"Thanks for the ride, Senkotsuke. Bye, guys!" Kagome got out of the Suburban and closed the door. Senkotsuke and Megami watched Kagome ascend the stairs to her home. Kagome pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. She waved as Senkotsuke honked, then merged back into traffic. Kagome entered the house and locked the door behind her. She turned to set her purse in the hallway when out of the corner of her eye she spotted someone on the couch watching TV. She crept to the living room and saw Shippo illuminated by the ghostly light of a TV in a dark room.

"Shippo, why are you up so late?" she asked.

She expected to hear "I was waiting up for you" but instead heard noises upstairs. There was a sharp gasp followed by a mournful, moaning cry. It was like someone was crying in their sleep.

"Is that Sesshomaru?" she asked Shippo.

He just nodded.


Sesshomaru ran through the forests of feudal Japan. He heard Rin's voice ringing throughout the trees. He tried desperately to find her. "Rin! Where are you?" he called and called. All he would ever hear was "Help me, Lord Sesshomaru!" He ran faster and faster, but could never catch up to Rin's voice. It seemed to be getting further and further away. "Rin, please, where are you? I'm trying to find you! Rin!" He became frantic, even emotional. Suddenly, the land around him became dead and barren. All life had withered away leaving only a shriveled, gray landscape. "Rin! Rin!" he screamed and shouted. Then at last, he felt something heavy in his haori. He thrust a clawed hand into the folds of his garment and felt a mass of hair. Sesshomaru grasped the strands, pulling the hair and what was attached. He found himself holding Rin's severed head by the hair. Sesshomaru felt the bile rise in his throat, choking his screams of horror. Rin's eyes turned to his and she spoke. "Why didn't you save me, Lord Sesshomaru?"

The entire Higurashi household was awakened by the sound of a piercing scream. Kagome flew off the couch where she had been sitting with Shippo for only five minutes. She took the stairs three at a time. Upon reaching the landing, doors were open left and right; all but one.

"What's going on?" Sango asked with a sleepy expression but alert voice.

"By Kami, it's one in the morning!" Grandpa bellowed, "Trying to give me heart failure …"

Kagome ignored everyone and ran to Sesshomaru's room. He was breathing rapidly and thrashing about on the bed in only his white hakama. A cold sweat was on him. He was still dreaming. Chiaki was soon right behind Kagome. Kagome began to rouse him, "Sesshomaru! Sesshomaru, wake up! Sesshomaru!" His thrashing became less violent and his breathing slowed somewhat. Kagome lowered her voice and softened her tone, "Sesshomaru, wake up. You're having a bad dream."

Chiaki sat on the edge of the futon and put her hand on his forehead. She moved her hand in a soothing, almost petting motion. "Sesshomaru, everything is all right. Wake up."

His eyes flashed open with a gasp. He first saw Chiaki, then Kagome. Kagome turned and ushered everyone out of the doorway. She shut the door with exasperation. He's embarrassed enough by just having a nightmare … like he needs a houseful of witnesses …

Sesshomaru looked to both of them again. His cheeks had a soft tinge of pink in them. He turned away from them, scooting as close to the wall as he could. "I'm fine now. Please, go back to sleep."

Kagome and her mother exchanged a caring sort of "yeah right" look. Chiaki put her hand on his shoulder. "Sesshomaru, something is wrong. Tell me, what was your nightmare about?"

"I'm just being weak. That's all."

"Didn't I tell you that you could lean on me if you needed to?"

Kagome joined her mother at the edge of Sesshomaru's bed, "And didn't you tell me that I was basically all the family that you have left?"

He nodded, and that's when Kagome and Chiaki witnessed a very rare phenomenon: Sesshomaru hugged his chest, curled his legs up, and cried. Chiaki, through that wonderful maternal instinct, knew the source of his sorrow. She petted his hair and repeated those motherly things that one needs to hear.

"I couldn't save her," he whispered through his tears, "I protected her so many times! Why couldn't I save her one more time?" he turned to Chiaki and she held her arms out. Forgetting he was a demon, forgetting he was grown, forgetting his pride and arrogance, Sesshomaru nuzzled up to Chiaki like he was a pup again. He was tired, and needed someone to lean on. She smoothed his hair and rubbed his back as if he were her own son seeking comfort.

Slowly but surely he began to calm down. Chiaki asked again, calmly, "Now, what was this nightmare about?"

He took a deep breath, "I found Rin's head. It asked me why I didn't save her." Kagome's eyes filled with tears and Chiaki hugged Sesshomaru tighter. "Do you think I am weak for having a nightmare? Here I am like a pup clinging to his mother . . ."

Chiaki cut him off, "You are not weak for mourning that precious child! It shows immense strength to love someone so much. And there is no shame in accepting comfort either."

He let out a soft, chuckling sort of "feh!" Sesshomaru sighed and said, "I haven't been mothered since I could pick up a sword."

"You needed it," Chiaki said softly. "Not even a demon like yourself could endure so much grief without a single break in control, I imagine." She made a bold move and kissed the crown of his head. "But if it makes you feel better, it will remain between the three of us."

"Thank you, Chiaki," he said.

"Just call me 'Mom,' okay?" she smiled at him.

"All right, Mom," he said gently.

"That's better," Chiaki sat petting his hair. Sesshomaru, who is usually so cold and distant, stayed cuddled up to Chiaki. She began to hum a gentle tune and his eyelids began to droop. Within ten minutes, Sesshomaru was sleeping soundly on Mrs. Higurashi's shoulder. Chiaki gently laid him back down, resting his head on his pillow. She smoothed out the blankets and covered him.

Chiaki motioned for Kagome to follow her as she rose from the futon. She whispered, "Goodnight, Sesshomaru."

He shifted slightly and mumbled, "Goodnight, Mother."

Chiaki opened the door and let Kagome leave the room first. She turned, followed Kagome, and closed the door gently. "Let's go to the kitchen, dear. I'll make us some tea." The women moved silently through the house (for most everyone had gone back to sleep). They crossed through the living room and saw that Shippo had fallen asleep on the couch. As they passed him, he spoke in his sleep, "But I want the last pickle …" They chuckled at the small boy's sleep-talking. They entered the kitchen and, like clockwork, Chiaki filled the tea kettle as Kagome retrieved the tea from the cupboard. "How was the concert, dear?" Mrs. Higurashi asked her daughter while she filled the kettle and set it on the stove.

"It was a blast. I haven't had that much fun in a long time," she grabbed two tea cups from another cupboard

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. You've been working so hard lately," she paused, "So has Sesshomaru. No wonder the poor thing just burned out. He's been carrying so much inside, and too proud to let any of it out."

"I've never seen him like that. It was kind of scary for me. He's usually cold and calculating; always so composed. He would blame it on human emotion," Kagome said as she put tea bags into the two cups.

Chiaki made a clucking noise with her tongue, "Something he must come to realize is that emotions do not just dwell within humans. His mother loved him, as did his father. And as much as he hates to admit it, his father loved InuYasha's mother a great deal from what I've been told. He will come to see that it is not a weakness to love, but a great strength. His heart will show him that one day. It may be sooner than you think."

"Do you think so?" Kagome asked as the kettle began to whistle.

"I do," Chiaki took the kettle from the stove top and poured hot water over the tea. "Sesshomaru, like you all, has had to deal with a great amount of trauma. Grief makes people reflect on their own lives. Sometimes it makes them blame themselves for their loss, as you tried to blame him for InuYasha's death."

Kagome hung her head slightly, "You don't need to remind me."

"I don't mean to chastise you. You were trying to deal with his passing. It was not your fault, Sesshomaru's fault, or InuYasha's fault. Things happen, for whatever reason or whoever's fault. Everyone must cope, and move on with their lives. Sesshomaru is learning to do that right now. He has never had to admit any emotion before now."

"Except apathy."

"Don't tease him. This is new for him," she walked to the counter and retrieved two spoons and napkins. Returning to the table, she handed one of each to Kagome and sat to drain her tea bag. Lifting the bag carefully by the string, she sat the bag down on the spoon and wound the string around spoon and bag to drain the excess. "As I was saying, Sesshomaru has more going through his mind now besides Rin's death and tracking down Naraku. He's coping with a new world, new ways, new feelings, and the horrible knowledge that he may be the last of his kind. Think about that before you criticize him again."

Kagome mimicked her mother's actions and sat the shriveled tea bag on her napkin. "I'm sorry. I've been awfully selfish, haven't I?"

Chiaki sipped her tea, "No, dear. You have had your own grief to manage; just as Sango and Shippo had as well. I'm just saying that he may not be as apathetic as you think."

Kagome nodded.

"But, he has made a lot of progress," Mrs. Higurashi sipped her tea again.

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"When I climbed down the well to him, he had laid there to die. I could see it, even feel it. Only when I told him what I felt when your father died, when he was shown that there is life after a loved one's death could he muster the strength to even stand. He decided to live and not remain at the bottom of the well. But by doing so, he also chose to feel the pain of losing a brother, a long time companion, and someone as dear as a daughter all at once. He chose to mourn them rather than die with them. For those reasons he is indeed strong. And for all that he has endured he has suffered only one nightmare and one crying fit; I'd say that he is handling himself quite honorably."

Kagome thought about her mother's words as she sipped her tea. I guess if I had looked around while I was mourning I would have seen that he was in pain, too. No matter how much he said he hated InuYasha, some part of him was connected with his brother. Some part of him had to mourn his loss. Well, like they say, blood is thicker than water. But seeing him cry like that tonight, and cuddle up to my mom like a wounded pup. I guess he had to have suffered a great deal to have the "Great Lord Sesshomaru" break down and weep before a human.

"You know something, Mom?" Kagome said softly.

"What, Kagome?"

"I still can't believe he called you 'Mother'," Kagome smiled gently.

Chiaki smiled as well, "I know. You see, he has made progress."

"I guess so," Kagome took a drink of her tea.

In the upper level of the Higurashi home Sesshomaru rolled over on the futon, sleeping peacefully for the first time in months.