"A Heart's Immaculence"

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not my property or my creation, and it never, ever will be.

Author's Note: My readers and reviewers, thank you for your thoughts! I may not have written back a response this time, but it's not because I stopped caring. I'll try to respond this next time around. At least I was able to read and look over some of my readers' profiles. I am very interested to see who my readers are, so I took a peek and found out some interesting things about you all. Some of you are writers yourselves, and I want to read some of your stories, but it's impossible to read everyone's at once, and the fact that I'm still working on my story doesn't help. However, I'll try my best. Kagome vs. Sesshomaru! Wow! That sounds like a great match for a fight. Well, the question is whether it will be a good fight or not. It all depends on Kagome for sure because if she gets scared easily and acts like a coward, the fight will be over quickly. If she stands her ground and does her best to fight well, at least there's something there to get excited about. Kagome better show Sesshomaru what she's got or I'll really get mad and kill her off in the story (just kidding!). Oh, and there isn't any flowery/detailed descriptions here either, the ones you all are used to reading from me. I decided to just state what is going on in plain and simple terms so that you read it fast. I did it that way on purpose, so that it fits with the speed of the fight in this scene. Get it? Okay, read, read, read!

Chapter 16

What am I doing? Kagome thought, trying hard not to disclose her nervousness, holding her bow and arrow tightly, restraining herself from shaking. Did I just agree to fight with Sesshomaru? I'm a goner for sure!

Sesshomaru still held Tokijin to her neck and was waiting for Kagome to make the first move, yet he contemplated why she was being hesitant, detecting the scent of her rising fear, yet it was not a fear towards him he sensed but one of being unable to defeat him. However, he immediately noticed the determination and audacity in her eyes, remembering the first time he encountered such boldness in her. It had been the time when he had used a human arm given to him by Naraku to wield Tetsusaiga. She had threatened and attacked him during the battle with Inuyasha, standing on a high cliff above him, her bearing that of confidence and self-assurance, qualities he noticed she was lacking for the moment. He was surprised that she had hit Tetsusaiga in one shot and transformed it into its original form, followed by more attacks despite his warning to her. His feelings towards her then were of indifference, apathy, and ruthlessness, whereas he now found her to be ridiculously amusing. When she had looked at him then, her eyes held an extreme dislike for him, not quite a feeling of hatred but close enough to be that. As he looked into her eyes, he was unable to detect such horrendous dislike, believing that perhaps it did not reside in her anymore, and that made him question the reason for its absence.

Kagome was also examining Sesshomaru as she still held her defensive stance, unable to shoot her arrow at him, his fixed stare melting her senses like wax. She did not desire to fight him, but she knew refusing to would make her seem more of a weak and helpless human. He did make her angry, and she still held a grudge against him for believing her to be useless, yet even if she wished to give him a taste of his own medicine, she knew she did not have enough power and ability to do it. He was a demon and she was a human. What were the odds of her coming out of this battle victorious? She would find it extremely fortunate if she was lucky enough to make a tiny scratch on him.

"Why are you hesitant in showing your power again?" asked Sesshomaru, removing Tokijin's blade from her neck. "I see. You have decided to die, then?"

"Do I look like I want to die?" Kagome said hastily. "I'm just figuring out a strategy on how to defeat you."

I'm such a liar, she said to herself.

"I find that hard to believe," said Sesshomaru. "You are incapable of coming up with something as intricate as that so quickly. But I would like to see you put it into effect nevertheless."

A distance away, Rin and Jaken sat on Ah-Un's back, waiting and watching as Sesshomaru and Kagome were about to battle each other. Rin always liked to watch her lord when he fought an enemy but those were rare occasions, for she was never allowed to remain close to him when her life was in jeopardy. He did not tell her to keep away this time, and she figured what was about to happen between him and Kagome was not going to be too dangerous, yet she was worried about her friend's safety. She did not believe Sesshomaru could hurt her on purpose, but she knew Kagome was not strong enough to fight him either. Jaken felt differently towards Kagome. He was anxious to see her get crushed and beaten by his lord and master, hoping her injuries were serious and deep, but better yet if they were fatal. He had a wicked grin on his face, and he held tightly to his staff as his eyes were frozen to Kagome's every movement.

As Rin and Jaken watched, Sesshomaru lifted his sword and allowed its full energy to surface upon the blade, its luminous light surrounding him like a lustrous shield, primed in position to guard its master with its massive power. He thought that if he stood there long enough Kagome would attack him using her power, but it seemed as if her feet were wedged deeply to the ground, and he was becoming impatient for the action he wanted to take place. Rather than to wait any further, he swung his sword to the side in one swift motion, preparing to swing again just near enough to slash her abdomen.

Conjuring all the strength she had, Kagome released the arrow and it flew in the air, giving off its own purified light, and as she watched its motion, she hoped it did not fail to hit the certain place on Sesshomaru's body she had aimed it at. Before he was able to come any closer to Kagome, Sesshomaru saw the arrow fly towards him, but he did not move out of its way, not feeling at all threatened, for what could a single arrow do to him?

Clink.

The arrow hit him on the top side of his armor near his shoulder, yet it hardly did any damage, making only a dent the size of a thumb's nail. He was unaffected by it, but Kagome certainly was, disappointed she had failed to break a piece of his armor as she had done some time ago.

"You shouldn't bother shooting at my armor," Sesshomaru said. "Remember what happened to you the last time you did that."

"I remember," Kagome replied, pulling out another arrow for her next shot. "Your armor fell to pieces when my arrow struck you. Now that was a sight to see!"

"I wasn't talking about that, although you did make me very angry. You did ruin my armor after all. I almost killed you after you failed to listen to my warning. I would have succeeded had Inuyasha not intervened."

"Well, aren't you glad you didn't kill me?" Kagome said jokingly. "Had you done that, you wouldn't have enjoyed my pleasant company."

"Your 'pleasant' company will not last much longer if you continue wasting my time."

Raising Tokijin again, Sesshomaru held it at the center of his body and spoke again.

"You haven't used your new power yet. Must I extend my own powers to their most dangerous degree for you to summon it?"

Kagome had no desire to put her bow and arrows away and rely on a power she did not know if she truly had. She felt more secure with the weapon she was close to mastering, and she did not know how to activate this other power. It was as if this power had triggered itself out of its own accord. She was uncomfortable with the idea of abandoning her weapon, yet she was more fearful of what Sesshomaru's powers could do to her. Strangely she knew he would not kill her, for he had threatened to do so many times without falling through to his word, and he surely would not in front of Rin, but the great harm he was capable of inflicting on her was certainly something to be concerned about. And that he would most surely do, especially because she was his opponent and she was attacking him. His defense and his own attacks towards her were the natural thing to do in battle after all.

"Why are you so interested in this supposed new power of mine?" Kagome asked. "It's not like you can steal it from me and use it for yourself."

"Even if I was capable of taking it from you, I would have no use for it."

"Are you saying I'm still useless? If that's the case, then why even bother fighting with me? "

"You will demonstrate your power, I say" Sesshomaru said, sending a bright flash from his sword towards Kagome.

She had but seconds to think of what to do to protect herself, and she knew if she tired waving her hand and her power did not work, she would be a scorched human. Remembering how Kikyo had used her bow and arrow to deflect Sesshomaru's blast of power, she ran through the movements in her mind and imitated them to her best. As though she had done it many times before, and feeling very natural to her, she aimed and released the arrow, the purified light that glowed form it meeting Tokijin's own intense brightness before it was repelled away from her.

"I did it!" Kagome shouted, clapping her hands excitedly, spinning around in circles until she made herself dizzy. When she stopped, everything around her was a blur, and she realized Sesshomaru was not in front of her anymore.

"Where did he go?" she asked, trying to keep her balance as she walked.

Swoosh.

Kagome felt something fly above her, the speed of the figure creating its own wind all around her, her hair covering her face and getting tangled in the process. She moved her her away from her face and smoothed it out impetuously with her hands, but suddenly she was pulled from behind, and she felt the pouch—which held her arrows--strapped to her back snap away from her body as she fell to the ground. Fortunately the grass below her broke her fall and prevented her from breaking any bones. She looked and saw Sesshomaru holding the pouch with her arrows, and he threw them to the ground before he bent over and snatched her bow away as well.

"What are you doing?" Kagome said, getting up quickly and grabbing a hold of her bow despite Sesshomaru still having a hold on it. "Give my bow and arrows back! How am I supposed to fight you empty handed? I can't defend myself without them!"

"Your archery is of inferior quality," said Sesshomaru, annoyed that Kagome was tugging at the bow he held. He swung his leg and kicked the side of one of her legs, causing her to fall a second time.

"Cut that out!" she yelled, slamming her hands on the dirt. "And how can you call my archery inferior when I deflected your sword's attack?"

"Your attack was done simply out of impulse, not because you have mastered your skills. However, that is not the power I desire to see, but I am surprised you have the ability to execute it as accurately as that priestess who used it on me, though yours is more forceful and deliberate."

"I wonder why that is," Kagome said as she rose again, shaking her head wildly, the dirt in her hair falling like brown snow.

"You truly are a sad excuse for a human!" Sesshomaru flung Kagome's bow far away from her, and he stepped on the arrows which had fallen beneath him.

"Just when I'm beginning to have a little faith in myself you take it all away!" Kagome said furiously, her fear replaced by anger. She was at the edge of her sanity, for Sesshomaru made her lose her temper faster than anyone, including Inuyasha. He was irking her purposefully, and she could not tolerate its further continuance.

"I'm not going to let you beat me," she said fumingly. "I'll die trying if I have to."

Kagome ran towards Sesshomaru fearlessly, and she thought he was going to move out of her way, but he remained where he stood. A new sense of control consumed her, and she believed her anger was the primary cause for the overwhelming power she now felt she possessed. Extending her arms in front of her, Kagome touched Sesshomaru's chest as a blue light glowed from her hands, and in that one moment she laid her hands on the youkai he was forced back. She knew she had inflicted some pressure and pain on him, but not enough for he was already coming to attack her. But just as she thought that was all she had in her, Kagome made the same sweeping hand motion she had done before, the one associated with her new power. She did it without worrying whether it would be successful or not, and as she flung her arm to the side in a graceful but forced fashion, the Tokijin was blown from Sesshomaru's hand, landing quite a distance away form him. Undaunted by her, Sesshomaru was again unaffected by her power, yet he was more determined to fight her than he was at the beginning.

Not believing she could perform that power again, Kagome did what she knew how to do well whenever she was in trouble: run.

Kagome ran swiftly, so swiftly that if she was racing a cheetah, the poor animal would be left behind. She looked behind her and saw Sesshomaru running after her, his hand covered in a green, misty glow. It did not take long for him to reach her, and he thrusted his hand at her, releasing the green mist as it expanded and spread out around her. Kagome breathed in as much air as she could before she held it in, realizing the mist was poison. Feeling as though she would suffocate, she covered her nose with her hand and ran again, pushing herself through the green fog until she was in fresh, open air. She uncovered her nose and began coughing hoarsely, her eyes stinging and watery.

"So you managed to escape my poison," Sesshomaru said as he watched Kagome struggle for breath. "You did not take as long as I thought you would."

"It's not as if I've never experienced this before," Kagome said, her voice slightly muffled.

"The power you just used on me caused me some discomfort. I was not expecting that, and you caught me off guard. Let us see what else you can do besides perform magic tricks."

Moving his arm in front of him and bending his fingers except for two, Sesshomaru waved his arm as a whip was released from the tip, its long length snapped to the front of him, almost hitting Kagome on the arm. Kagome shielded herself from Sesshomaru's whip with her arms, crossing them over her face, then running away to seek shelter. She screamed as she heard the loud crack of the whip, turning around to see which direction it was being thrown at so she could avoid being hit, the zig-zagging motion making her eyes hurt and feeling as if they had moved out of place.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, wishing the hanyou was there to rescue her. All she had to do was call out his name and he was there to save her instantly. Seeing Sesshomaru attack her made her feel depressed, for although she was now in love with him, her heart told her a hurtful truth: he would never rescue her.

While she ran, she saw her scattered arrows laying on the ground, and she picked a few of them up, scanning the rest of the area for her bow. She found it near the spot where Rin and Jaken were watching, and she ran quickly to grab it.

"Be careful, Kagome," said Rin fearfully.

"I'll be all right, Rin," Kagome said assuredly. "Sesshomaru and I are just practicing our fighting skills, that's all. Don't worry, okay? I'll be fine."

"No you won't!" Jaken said, laughing wickedly. "As of now, Lord Sesshomaru has been merciful in allowing you to escape so easily. He will slay you soon enough. You deserve more than the attacks he's giving you!"

"Shut up, Jaken!" Kagome said, aiming her weapon at him, pulling back her arrow and shooting his hat off. "Do you want me to shoot another arrow into that stupid head of yours?"

Jaken did not reply openly but he mumbled words not meant to be heard by Rin's innocent ears.

Kagome focused again on Sesshomaru, and as she was about to shoot her arrow, he grabbed the front of her kimono and lifted her off the ground. He held her above him, and she looked at him furiously, dropping her weapon without choice, understanding that he had strictly told her not to use her bow and arrows to battle against him. Unexpectedly, Sesshomaru smiled at her, but it was not filled with any warmth, rather it was a gesture that proclaimed his victory over her. Kagome did not like the idea that she was about to lose to him, yet there could be no other outcome since he was the most powerful demon in the land, and she was merely a human who possessed a few miko powers. She believed her powers could be more useful for her situation, and she was too upset to analyze the complexity of it. However, she was not going to allow Sesshomaru to have the satisfaction of bathing in his own glory without a struggle for her final attack.

Without hesitation, Kagome wrapped both her hands around Sesshomaru's arm and pressed her palms on his skin as deeply as she could. Sesshomaru looked down at his arm and saw that it was turning red, and it was spreading fast over his flesh like a rash. He could tell his arm was being burned by Kagome's touch, but he did not release his grip as painful as the experience was. He also did not show any signs he was in pain, an even wider smile on his face.

"Please let me down," Kagome said, releasing her hold on the youkai's arms slightly. "You have won this small battle and have defeated me."

Sesshomaru gently lowered her down, but Kagome kept her hands around his arm until her feet touched the ground and then he finally released her.

"You know defeating me is impossible," Sesshomaru said pompously. "But who is to say you cannot defeat bad humans or weak demons?"

Is he saying I can fight and win at battles on my own? Kagome thought. How can that be?

"It doesn't matter," Kagome continued, lowering her head. "I will always be a weakling to you. I'm a girl who has no real strength or power. You said it yourself, and I know you don't lie about things like that, so I should believe you. I should believe everybody who says I'm a lousy fighter."

"Your self-pity is atrocious!" Sesshomaru said.

Kagome was depressed enough by her failure to live up to her own expectations, and Sesshomaru's criticism of her did not ease her troubled heart. It only evoked in her melancholy, and she was not going to allow his words to shatter her completely. She saw the Tokijin sticking out from the ground in the same place it had been when she removed it form Sesshomaru's hands with her power. Running towards it, she stretched out her arm and held it over the sword's handle.

Sesshomaru was alarmed, and his face contorted just enough that revealed a mixture of fear and worry.

"Don't touch it!" he said.

"Are you afraid I'll purify it?" Kagome said. "Your precious Tokijin would not have any power anymore if I touched it, would it?"

"The sword is too powerful for you," Sesshomaru said, walking towards her, not to harm her but to prevent her from laying her hand on his weapon. "Touch it and you will die."

"As if you care what happens to me or not." Kagome relaxed her arm, placing it beside her. "Besides I don't need to touch the sword to die. I'm already dying inside."

Dying because of you, Kagome said sadly to herself. My heart is breaking because it knows you will never love me.

"What do you mean by that?" he said, taking Tokijin from the ground and placing it next to Tenseiga on his hip.

Sesshomaru was puzzled by Kagome's statement, and he dug through his thoughts and came up with the conclusion of what she was referring to.

"Is Inuyasha the reason behind your sudden change of character?" he asked. "I'm not surprised that he would be the one to cause you such agony. He still has been unable to find you. Are you afraid his attachment to the priestess is forever bound? If this is so, that is partly the reason you failed to summon the full extent of your powers. Your heart is weak and your emotions are dominating you."

"You don't understand," Kagome said sadly, but when she turned to look at Sesshomaru, she saw his face had not a glimmer of empathy.

Realizing she probably looked like a fool to him, she switched her face form being mournful to a cheery disposition. She gave him a wide smile and faked a hearty laugh.

"I'm so dramatic, aren't I?" she said in the happiest tone she could give. "I can be so silly sometimes! I just love to play around like that. Don't pay attention to any of it! I'm just being stupid."

Sesshomaru was not convinced.

"So how did I do, my fighting skills, I mean," Kagome asked, hoping he would find at least one positive thing to say.

"Your skills remain feeble despite that new power," Sesshomaru replied. "You're not even worth battling with. I felt as if I was playing a childish game."

Kagome no longer abided her situation, longing to run away from him, her heart's sensitivity too hard to endure.

"Can't you at least give me some credit?" she said. "I tried my best, the best I think I've ever done in my life!"

"Your best isn't good enough."

"For you it isn't! What do you expect from me? I'm barely learning how to handle my powers right. Besides I'm only a human, remember? It's not like I'm a demon like you! But if I was one I'd definitely beat the—Oh, whatever!"

Kagome picked up her weapon from the ground and stared at Sesshomaru with tears in her eyes.

"You make me so angry, so angry I hate you!"

And with that, Kagome ran away from him as quickly as she could, not bothering to stop and look back at him

"Kagome!" Rin cried. "Don't leave!"

Rin got off Ah-Un's back and began running after Kagome.

"Rin!" said Sesshomaru. "Do not follow her."

Pausing, Rin looked at Sesshomaru and then looked in the direction Kagome ran to. She was going to obey her lord, but something in her made her take back her decision. Looking at Sesshomaru angrily and with a pouted face, she ran after Kagome, her small figure disappearing into the trees.

Sesshomaru was shocked beyond expression.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken said, forgetting what he had said about him being silent. "Rin disobeyed you! She's never done that before!"

"Be quiet!" he said coldly. "I told you not to speak!"

Sesshomaru looked at the arm Kagome had burned, noticing it was not severe but had she held her grip on him a bit longer, the wound would have given him great pain before it healed completely. He was satisfied with her performance during their battle, but he understood she had more to learn before she could be masterful. She had the capability to be more powerful than she was if she tried harder, and he knew her emotions were the cause of her failure.

But what is it that causes her such sorrow? Sesshomaru thought. And does she truly despise me?

Not wanting his thoughts to venture towards the emotional, he walked into the forest to find Rin, and her case was another thing which had him confused. Why had she disobeyed him and run after Kagome? He was not angry at the child, but he would make sure to notify her of his disapproval on what she had done.

As he walked with Ah-Un and Jaken beside him, Sesshomaru suddenly felt a menacing presence surround him. Jaken and Ah-Un reacted suspiciously and looked around themselves for the strange eeriness that enveloped them.

Like cold liquid falling down his bare back, Sesshomaru felt a shiver and the iciness of worry was injected inside him.

Rin and Kagome were in trouble, but before he could run to them, the sky became overcast, the wind blew as hard as a storm, and the trees of the forest began to move all around him, blocking him and preventing him from escaping. Grabbing Tokijin, Sesshomaru prepared to slice the tress and destroy them, knowing well he could fight them well and hurt them physically, unlike with the battle he had moments before, where he knew he had harmed the woman he cared for, injuring her heart with his scathing words.

I'm done writing! Thank goodness! My back is aching right now and I'm about ready to burst because I need to go to the ladies' room. I honestly don't think the Sesshomaru vs. Kagome thing came out the way I wanted it to. Still, I have a headache because of it and I really don't feel like reworking this chapter again. But there is one positive thing I can say about it. At least I got a little emotional with Kagome and the way she felt. Poor girl! I felt her pain. She obviously tried her best to fight well, and I think she did a pretty good job compared to how we're used to seeing her fight. Sesshomaru definitely hurt her feelings, but he didn't mean everything he said. He just wanted to bring out her "hidden talents." And he still has to act the part of being the cold, uncaring, all powerful demon. I bet Sesshomaru was affected by Kagome's "I hate you." In a way, I'm glad for that because he needs a "wake-up call." I mean look at how much Kagome is suffering because of him. I can't stand it when girls get hurt because of the guys they love. I'm really mad at Sesshomaru right now. He needs to grow up and face the facts of what he feels because I will make him pay if he doesn't! Oh, no! I really need to go! Don't forget to write your reviews! Review, my readers! Review like there's no tomorrow!