Prompt: Discord Drabble Nights – April 2022 - Launch

Inspiration: "If Our Love Is Wrong" by Callum Scott

Summary: Kagome's power begins to wane, and she struggles to come to terms with the cause.

Count

Kagome ducked, cursing as her arrow flew wide of its target. If not for Inuyasha's quick maneuvering, the boar youkai would've impaled her.

"Get your head in the game, K'gome!" he groused, resting Tessaiga on his shoulder. "I'm startin' to lose count of all the times I've had to save yer ass."

Kagome reminded herself that maiming her best friend would be more hassle than it was worth.

"Sorry," she said, picking up her arrows, "I've got a lot of my mind."

Inuyasha snorted. "Keepin' yerself alive is more important than anything the bastard has to offer."

A dark blush spilled onto Kagome's cheeks, but she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "He deserves a proper answer."

Patience

Patience had never been Kagome's strong point, and she had a feeling it wasn't Sesshoumaru's either, but she wasn't going to rush something as important as courting.

Especially with how well things were going.

The attraction was still new, fresh, her face breaking out into a bright smile every time he entered the village. Even when he was there for Rin, his youki would reach for her, a gentle caress to her senses as she waited her turn.

He'd been serious from the start, but Kagome had been wary, both for her sake and everyone else's. The Western Lord had persevered though, giving her time to come to terms with the fact that there wasn't an ulterior motive.

Sesshoumaru wanted her.

Control

"Yer control is slippin'."

"It is not." Kagome shot an arrow at him to prove her point, but just like the last, it flew wide; Inuyasha didn't even have to move to avoid it.

"What I tell ya? Yer head's gone to mush ever since—"

"Finish that sentence, and I will set you on fire."

Inuyasha sighed, then sheathed Tessaiga. "I'm not the only one who's noticed, K'gome. It's like you fell through the well all over again."

Kagome would've stomped her foot if she wasn't thinking the same thing. Her powers had been fluctuating to the point of being uncontrollable, and it was starting to affect her ability to keep people safe.

Ignite

"You are troubled."

A sigh escaped her lips, her shoulders slumping as Kagome threw a stone into the bubbling river. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only because you are trying so hard to conceal it." Sesshoumaru sat down beside her, and she leaned against him, taking comfort in his presence.

"Inuyasha thinks you're corrupting me."

A pale eyebrow rose. "You are the one who initiated—"

Kagome covered his mouth with both hands, a blush igniting her cheeks. "Not like that! We all know that a miko's power being tied to her purity is an old wives' tale." She felt him smirk a second before his tongue slid along her palm.

Embark

"We agreed to embark on this journey together, Kagome," he said once she'd released his mouth. "If you are having second thoughts—"

"No!" She shook her head vehemently. "No. I want this. I want you. I just…" She gazed at the river, willing it to give her guidance. Sesshoumaru's hand settled over hers, his steadfast support a balm to her weary soul.

If it was only temporary.

She was at a crossroads, the future bright and promising. And yet she still found herself hesitating, the past screaming as responsibility clawed at her back.

"Who am I if I can't protect people?"

Float

Her guilt continued to gnaw at her, tempering her reiki even during her deepest meditation. Normally, clearing her mind came easily, lifting the weight of duty from her shoulders and giving her the chance to relax.

But the shame of not being able to assist in the latest attack was a bitter pill to swallow, and Kagome flopped onto the grass, the clouds above seeming to taunt her as they floated by.

"Ye dwell too much, child. It clouds your judgement." Kaede didn't bother to sit down, her cane wobbling as she stepped closer.

"Easy for you to say," Kagome grumbled. "Kirara isn't nursing a sprained foot and a gauge in her side because of you."

Cast

"Perhaps not," the older miko lamented, "but I also know the kit would be worse for wear had ye not interfered."

It should've been an easy extermination, the hoard had barely been worth mentioning, which was why Kagome had tried to take them on herself, her need to prove herself outweighing any remaining common sense.

If Shippou hadn't been passing by on Kirara—

Shaking her head, she drew her knees up to her chin. "I should've been paying better attention. Been more prepared." Sesshoumaru would be disgusted with how much she'd had to rely on others, considering the amount of time he'd spent training her.

"Cast aside your doubt, child. The rest will follow."

Lift

Kagome lifted her head to the sky, Kaede's words lingering. The clouds continued to move, unaware of her plight, and she wondered if the gods had ever been conflicted in their choices.

She snorted. They probably had, then after making a mistake, had likely claimed it was part of their master plan.

What was her plan?

What did she want?

Youki slid up her spine, and she scrambled to her feet, running towards its owner as he welcomed her with open arms.

"I had thought to heal your wounds."

Kagome grabbed fistfuls of his hair, pulling him down to claim his mouth.

Ascend

Sesshoumaru returned the kiss with vigour, Kagome's heart ascending to new heights as he shuddered under her assault.

"I'm sorry," she whispered when they finally pulled back for air.

"Whatever for?"

She struggled to put it into words, trying to convey with her body what her mind could not as she pulled him closer.

This is what she wanted. He was what she wanted. And damn anything and anyone who stood in her way.

Including herself.

Going up on tiptoe, Kagome brushed her lips along his jawline, nipping at his skin as she got closer to his ear. "I love you."

Begin

Accepting her feelings for Sesshoumaru set in motion a slew of new beginnings that Kagome found herself unprepared for.

Jaken referring to her as 'Lady' being at the top of her list.

But it also brought things into perspective. No longer was she second-guessing herself when it came to her place in the pack. And once that thought became cemented in her mind, Kagome's reiki returned with a vengeance, each arrow meeting its mark.

Pride radiated off her intended as they moved in tandem, power colliding—combining—before decimating the youkai that threatened the peace of the Shiro.

Halt

"Ever planning on admitting you were wrong?"

Inuyasha halted in his movements. "I was right that it was the bastard's fault."

A pebble ricocheted off his shoulder. "It had nothing to do with demon corruption."

"Keh." He went back to sharpening his sword.

"Loving someone is only wrong if it hurts you."

"You sure it ain't doing that?" His subdued tone stopped her from throwing another pebble.

Kagome gave him a reassuring smile. "Absolutely not. I think I'm actually more powerful now."

Her friend sighed, then grabbed the hilt of Tessaiga, the weapon transforming in a flare of power. "Care to test it out?"

Grinning, Kagome jumped to her feet, not even bothering to grab her bow. "You're on."