"A Heart's Immaculence"
Disclaimer:Okay, here I go again. I do not own Inuyasha or any of the other characters I have grown to love and adore.
Author's Note:Since school has started, I have been trying to write as much as I can each day, though I am unable to submit each new chapter as quickly as I wanted, each complete piece being turned in once every other day. So how do you like Kagome and Sesshomaru's encounter so far? Sesshomaru is rather mean to Kagome, isn't he? I know. You all want him to treat her with love, right? Don't fret! He will but he'll do so in his own style, not in the typical way a male lover would treat his girl. That is what I love about Sesshomaru. He is his own unique person. In writing this story, I've had to look at pictures of him and watch him in several episodes on dvd in order to get a better sense of who he is. It just helps me delve deeper into his character, since I don't want to make him someone he's not. Kagome's character is a lot easier. I just hope I'm doing both of them justice. I should just stop here and get on with the story, right? Alright, here it is!
Chapter Eight
With a buzzing that was almost deafening, the poisonous insects swarmed around Ah-Un and the company they carried on back, flying on either direction to prevent the escape of their prey. Rin held on tightly to Kagome, burying her face in the young woman's hair while Jaken dug his tiny claws into the dragon's skin. Ah-Un desperately tried to maneuver themselves around the insects, but they were quick to block them. The insects displayed threatening glares and swung their stingers menacingly at the group. Kagome shot several of her arrows at them, but they all dived and avoided her attack. She was unable to kill any of them and she was unsure of what to do, knowing the person behind the intrusion was no other than Naraku.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried, squeezing Kagome's waist even tighter.
"Rin look out!" Kagome yelled.
The insects flew right into the girl, the speed of their attack knocking her off Ah-Un's back, her small body falling freely to the ground below. Kagome was terrified and stretched out her arms as if doing so could bring Rin back into them. From seeing what had just happened, Jaken began defending himself with his staff of two heads, sending flames of fire everywhere, but that too was of no use, for he angered the insects and they pushed him off the dragon as well. Kagome, the only one left on Ah-Un, thought frantically on how to save herself, praying Rin was not hurt or dead. Unfortunately, she did not have much time to salvage her own fate, and the insects repeated the same form of attack on her.
Screaming loudly, her lungs filling with air as she descended, Kagome called out for the person she knew never failed to save her. The instant her body slammed into the ground, her heart sank and a grim feeling enveloped her beating organ. The one she hoped to rescue her did not appear, the male friend she entrusted her life to arrive and save her. Sitting up and touching her throbbing head, she realized she was fortunate to still be alive, yet she was hurt by the other realization: Inuyasha did not come for her.
Her mind switching track, Kagome looked around for the two who were with her.
"Rin!" she shouted. "Jaken!"
"Kagome!" Rin limped across to where Kagome sat and hugged her.
"Your leg," said Kagome. "You're hurt."
"It doesn't hurt that much. Oh, there's Jaken!"
Jaken came out of some bushes behind him, shaking his head in an attempt to remove a number of leaves that had gotten stuck there. He carried his staff over his shoulder and skitted to where Kagome and Rin were.
"Those blasted insects!" he spat. "They tried to kill me!"
"Now why would I want them to do that?" said a smooth but sinister voice.
"Naraku!" Kagome said, standing on her feet.
Naraku, disguised in his usual baboon costume, bent his head to Kagome's announcing of his name. He looked at her with keen interest, his mind sorting through the plan he conceived which involved her alone. Looking at both Rin and Jaken, he noticed the strangeness of the entire situation, since he had never seen the two of them with Kagome before.
"Kagome," Naraku replied, focusing on her more intently. "I'm happy you're not hurt."
"Don't even bother with your lies," she said sharply. "What are you doing here?"
Naraku's insects hovered above him, protecting their master obediently, ready to attack anything or anyone who endeavored to harm him.
"I notice you have new companions. Are Inuyasha and his friends no longer to your liking? I find it hard to believe Lord Sesshomaru has accepted you as part of his ward. How very surprising!"
"He's not my friend, if that's what you mean."
"Obviously not. He is an arrogant fool whose overconfidence in himself will one day be his undoing. By the way, where is Inuyasha? Shouldn't he be protecting you?"
Kagome suddenly felt fearful. "Have you done something to him? Is that why he hasn't been able to find me, why he did not--?'
"Rescue you? Ha! I know not the reason why Inuyasha has not found you. He is not of any interest to me at the moment. You are my main priority now!"
Kagome swallowed apprehensively, unsure of what Naraku intended to do with her, guessing what purpose he had to show himself. What was it that he wanted from her? She did have a single jewel shard with her. Was that what he was after? Aside from that, she did not know what else could attract Naraku to seek her out and for what use she was for him.
"What do you want with me? I don't have any jewel shards if that's what you're after."
Naraku laughed wickedly. "Jewel shards are not on my agenda today. You, on the other hand, are. You have something I need, and I will take it by force if you do not surrender yourself willingly."
Kagome felt Rin grab hold of her hand. Looking down at her, Kagome touched her head as assurement that everything was going to be all right.
"As if I'd surrender to you, Naraku," Kagome said defiantly. "Whatever it is I have that you need, I will never give to you."
The baboon-pelted demon switched his stare to Rin and Jaken, another menacing smile stretching across his hidden face. He moved towards Kagome in ghostly fashion, and a red light glowed within the dark sockets of his eyes. With motherly protection, Kagome grabbed Rin's arm and pulled her behind her back, her eyes unable to avert those of her enemy.
"You will do what I say," Naraku said darkly. "Or your two companions will suffer for not cooperating with me."
Kagome still held her defiance, not wanting to give in to Naraku's scheme. She knew that Naraku was a patient villain, knowing he accomplished all he desired through careful preparation. She wondered if she had the ability to keep him from hurting Rin and Jaken long enough to conjure an escape plan, if not to save her own life but of those she was presently traveling with.
"You don't scare me, Naraku," said Kagome bravely.
"Your bravery will not save your friends, I'm afraid."
Naraku's insects dissipated from the swarm they were in and flew at Kagome, Rin and Jaken with tremendous speed. Rin, frightened by both Naraku and the insects, let herself go from Kagome's hand and ran from the danger chasing her, her small cries piercing Kagome's heart. Jaken ran as well, but when he tried to use his staff again, one of the insects pulled it away from him and flew off with it. As for Kagome, she too was being pursued as she ran, yet she did not like the fact that Naraku was enjoying the spectacle he was witnessing. She waved her hands above her head to try and stave off the insects but they kept coming after her. However, in one instance that she held out her hand, Kagome was able to touch one of the insects and as she did so, a bright light illuminated from her, and the insect was thrown to the ground. Kagome herself was amazed at what she had done along with Naraku who was watching her from a distance. She remembered she had displayed this power before when she first entered the Bone Eater's well and encountered Mistress Centepede. What had made her perform the power again? Why was she able to do it now?
"Ah, it seems one of your companions is about to be killed," said Naraku with a pleased expression.
Kagome twisted her body and flanked to the right. Strangely, all the insects who were attaching her left her alone and flew towards Rin. She was already being attacked by various insects, and the great swarm which was aiming for her would kill her instantly. Kagome ran to the little girl who was now too precious for her to lose to Naraku's evil. She pushed a few insects away from her, pulling Rin under her weight as she placed her own body over the child to protect her from being stung.
"No, Kagome!" Rin screamed underneath her protector.
"Sacrificing your life to save Rin's will be nothing but a waste," Naraku said malevolently. "After you die, I'll have my insects kill her anyway."
Hearing the insects' wings flap vociferously as they moved closer to her body, Kagome braced herself for the pain from the stingers her attackers were about to stab her with. She in turn buried her face in her arms and tightened her muscles out of fear.
"Good-bye, Rin," she whispered into the girl's ear.
Kagome felt light pounding on her back, not the pain she was expecting from the insects, the sensation like that of slapping, the feeling scattered in different parts of her body. When she lifted her head to look at what was happening, she saw the shredded and torn up bodies of the insects spread across her back and the ground around her. She saw more torn bodies fall to the ground like rain, a bright flash exploding in front of her like lightning.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried in delight, her smile aimed at her demon lord as he somersaulted in the air, wielding Tokijin like a baton.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken yelled gleefully, dancing around in circles. "Now Naraku will feel my master's wrath for forcing him to come to our aid!"
For a moment Kagome sighed in relief but then with disappointment. She was grateful Sesshomaru had come in time to save them from Naraku's trap, yet she would have preferred Inuyasha, for he was always the one to be there for her in such trouble. Perhaps she felt disheartened because she knew deep within her that Sesshomaru did not come to save her life but to save Rin and Jaken.
It seemed that all the insects had been killed until three happened to emerge from the bushes and came flying at Kagome and Rin who were still huddled to the ground. In one swift movement, Sesshomaru landed in front of the two females and slashed their bodies with his claws.
"Impressive as always," Naraku commented to Sesshomaru. "However, your timing in rescuing your ward is disappointing. You usually arrive much more quickly."
"I was unaware you were keeping track, Naraku," Sesshomaru said apathetically.
"It gives me great pleasure to see you again, Lord Sesshomaru. Your presence is one I never weary of."
"Enough of your nonsense. What are you doing here? Is it me you seek?"
"You make it very tempting for me to say yes, but unfortunately you are not my target, neither is that child or that unsightly slave of yours."
"Unsightly am I?" Jaken said angrily. "How dare you insult Lord Sesshomaru's loyal servant that way! He will not allow you to treat me so disrespectfully. Kill him, my lord! Tear his head off!"
"Be quiet, Jaken!" Sesshomaru said, annoyed by Jaken's prattling.
"You'll show him, won't you, sire? You'll make Naraku fall to his knees and cry like a baby. Nobody messes with my great and powerful lord! He is the greatest demon in the land! Get him, my lord! Crush him!"
"Silence!" Sesshomaru glared at Jaken impatiently and kicked him a few feet away. It was clear that Jaken had instigated the youkai's anger more prominently than Naraku.
"Lord Sesshomaru! How could you! Your own servant, thrown to the ground like an unwanted thing. I'll never speak to you again!"
Kagome also became annoyed by Jaken's oversensitivity. "Will you stop moping, for crying out loud! He saved your life, didn't he?"
Sesshomaru looked at Kagome with a heaviness she knew meant bad news.
"You stay out of this!" he said warningly.
"Why should I?" Kagome retorted, positioning herself next to him. "I am the important one here. Naraku has come for me not you."
Not truly believing her words, Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her and then at Naraku, awaiting the answer he wanted to hear.
"The girl is right, I'm afraid," Naraku said, relishing in the confusion Sesshomaru was now in.
"What can you possibly want with such a useless woman?"
"Useless!" Kagome said, digging her heals in the dirt. "I was the one who saved Rin from that demon yesterday. Don't tell me you've forgotten that!"
"It was luck that saved you and Rin from that demon."
"I shot the arrow into the demon's chest and killed him! Me! Kagome! I am the reincarnation of a priestess you know!"
Kagome did not believe she had compared herself to Kikyo, but despite having somewhat dire feelings for her, she was proud she inherited her miko powers, powers she had yet to master.
"I have no time to listen to your bothersome talk. Your voice is paining my ears."
"What's wrong with my voice! Yours isn't any better. You speak in the same boring tone no matter what emotion you're in. Don't you think you need to change that? You don't even need to use your sword to kill your enemies. All they need to do is listen to you talk and they would be bored to death by it!"
Without thinking of how Sesshomaru would react to her scathing insults, she blurted out whatever her anger dictated of her. In reality she did not deem the youkai's voice to be boring at all. Although he did speak in the same balanced level, she liked the manner in which he spoke, using words which kept her in a state of intrigue. For some reason, his voice was comforting and soft, almost feminine, yet there was a hard iron, steel-like sharpness to it as well that revealed his manliness. It was thick and polished and syrupy to her ears, close enough to purity, clear like crystalline water.
"I enjoy watching both of you immensely," said Naraku, laughing once again. "Please don't stop entertaining me."
"Your enjoyment will soon be at an end, Naraku, once I kill you. Watching you die will be my entertainment," said Sesshomaru, ready to strike Naraku with his sword.
"Harsh words for such a silken voice."
"I am weary of you stalling your true actions. Explain your reason for wanting this troublesome human girl. I see no benefit for you."
"Now that is between me and Kagome. Oh, and by the way, Lord Sesshomaru, I must inquire this of you. You are not one to be seen amongst humans, much less allow them to accompany you. Rin is odd enough but with Kagome, Inuyasha's wench? What an interesting combination! Tell me. How did she come to be at your side?"
"Do not insinuate that this woman is more than just a mere human to me."
"You're so right in that!" Kagome said. "I'm just a worthless human you always try to kill whenever the chance arises. Just a piece of meat meant to be sliced!"
"I have had enough!" said Sesshomaru, lifting his body from the ground, flying across the air to attack Naraku.
"Be mindful, Lord Sesshomaru," Naraku said before the youkai touched him with his wrath. "You interrupted my plans to do with Kagome as I had schemed, but the girl is not the only one I will be after now. My scheme now involves you as well."
Naraku remained situated to where he stood, making no effort to move himself from Sesshomaru's attack. Using Tokijin, he shredded Naraku's baboon pelt and decapitated his head in one swing. Naraku's form disappeared completely except for a small, wooden figure that fell to Sesshomaru's feet.
"A decoy," Sesshomaru said, moving Naraku's puppet around with his foot. "I should have known. Curse that wretched fool!"
"Are we safe now?" Rin asked, running to her lord.
"For the time being," Sesshomaru replied. "Rin, why is that girl still with you? Did you not leave her alone to go her own way after she saved you?"
Rin placed her finger inside her mouth, a gesture she was nervous, for her lord was undoubtedly displeased with Kagome's presence. "Yes, but—"
"I tried to stop Rin from bringing her along, my lord, but she didn't listen," Jaken said cautiously, knowing Sesshomaru may still be irritated with him. "That wretched girl even beat me close to death!"
"You deserved it," Kagome interjected. "You made Rin cry!"
Sesshomaru gave Jaken another cold, scathing look, his pupils widening with each puff of breath he exhaled.
"Please don't hurt me again, my lord!" Jaken wailed. "I didn't mean to make her cry. I was just frustrated by that wench. She made me get angry."
"Stop calling me wench!" Kagome yelled. "Even Naraku calls me by my name!"
"Let's be off, Rin. You too, Jaken!" Sesshomaru began to walk away, but Rin did not follow. He noticed she was not at his side, but Jaken was more than ready to leave, gathering Ah-Un away from the bushes they were feeding on.
"Rin, come along," Sesshomaru repeated, this time more strictly.
Rin embraced Kagome's waist and held tightly to her, but instead of Kagome returning the hug, she gently pulled the little girl away from her.
"Listen, Rin," she said. "You must do what Lord Sesshomaru tells you. I know you want to help me, but things are getting to be too dangerous now. You have someone to protect you, and I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
"But who will protect you when you're by yourself?" said Rin, concerned.
"Inuyasha will come for me. Don't worry."
"Why did he not come for you?" Sesshomaru asked, for he was surprised by his brother's absence as Kagome was at the youkai's question.
"How should I know?" Kagome replied.
"If you knew how to fight, you wouldn't need his help," Sesshomaru sneered. "Are you not the reincarnation of that priestess, the woman Inuyasha foolishly fell in love with fifty years ago?"
"Not you too!" Kagome shouted breathlessly. "First Inuyasha tells me I can't fight, then Kikyo makes that comment, and now you!"
"I could not help but notice your discrepancies. When I saw you with that priestess, you looked pathetic. You cannot even defend yourself. I'm surprised you haven't been killed already. Indeed you are a useless human."
"Is that why you used Tokijin on me? Because I am a good for nothing human! All you've done is try to kill me. If you want me dead, you should have allowed Naraku to kill me himself."
Although she was hurt by Sesshomaru's pessimism, she knew it was because of him that she was alive and that Naraku was unable to get to her.
"By the way," she said shyly to him. "Thank you for saving my life."
"I intervened simply to save Rin."
Rin approached Sesshomaru and bowed her head respectfully to him.
"Please, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin pleaded. "Don't be angry with her. She saved my life from the demon. I only wanted to help her find her friends like she helped me. That is why I offered her a ride on Ah-Un. Please, my lord."
Sesshomaru contemplated briefly, noticing Rin's innocence and worried feelings for a young woman he did not care to bother with.
"But Rin…."
Rin shrugged her shoulders and sighed sadly, turning away from him.
Sesshomaru looked at her for a few moments then replied, "Very well, Rin. She may accompany us, but if she does not find my idiot of a brother and his friends in three days, she will be disposed of."
Rin, in her happiness and joy, turns around and runs towards her lord with outstretched arms, looking as if ready to embrace him, yet stopping short in front of him, placing her hands down, laughing.
Kagome herself was completely shocked. Jaken was furious but before he could voice his disapproval, Rin grabbed his arms and began spinning him around, making him dance to her movements.
"Isn't this exciting, Master Jaken?" Kagome's going to be with us for a while!"
Kagome noticed Sesshomaru leaving.
"Jaken," he said as he walked. "Take care of Rin, and make sure no harm comes to her again, or I will personally run my sword through your meager body. And I won't use Tenseiga to bring you back to life. I will be back shortly."
"And what of the human woman?" Jaken said.
"She is not my concern."
"Of course not, my lord. Why would she be?"
"Why are you so mean to Kagome, Jaken?" said Rin.
"Because she is nothing but a pebble in Lord Sesshomaru's shoe, a thorn in his side, a pain in the neck…."
Kagome hits Jaken on the head. "Alright! I got you already!"
Kagome turned her head to catch a last glimpse of Sesshomaru, but he was gone.
"Sesshomaru hardly ever sticks around, does he?" she tells Rin.
"He'll be back," Rin replied blissfully. "He always comes back."
I finally got through writing this chapter! What a relief! Since it's a school night, it is extremely hard for me to get through writing without a headache. Even if I'm tired, I do my best to finish what I start. I even missed watching "Samurai Champloo," today, one of my favorite anime shows, to write this. Did I do a good job on it at least? I hope so. I think I worry too much about it. I'm even hungry too. I guess I'll grab a snack to celebrate and reward myself for completing another chapter in my precious story. I got to go now. It's also almost bedtime for me. I'm in much need for sleep so that my poor brain can rest. Maybe I'll dream about Sesshomaru tonight (I wish!). Don't forget, my readers, about giving me your reviews. Review until your heart's content!