Chapter 3
Sesshomaru looked up at the sky, furious. Human. His soul bonded was a human. The moment he set eyes on her his body had gone rigid, felt more alive than he could ever remember. His body had felt as if he had been struck by lightning in the most pleasurable way possible. But then he registered everything else, and that light, that fire dwindled away into nothing. A damn human.
Sesshomaru despised humans with every fiber of his being. They were greedy, destructive, and generally caused more problems than they were worth. They fought over petty matters like land or the most beautiful woman. It was true demons fought over those things as well, but with demons it was more worthwhile. Yokai lived for hundreds or even thousands of years. Humans couldn't touch that. He couldn't understand why they would waste their short years as something as petty as that.
Their stench was that of unwashed bodies with a hint of aging death. They were so weak and fragile that they were born dying, just waiting on the day for them to grow old and die, withering away and forgotten in a matter of one generation, two at most. Their lives seemed so insignificant that Sesshomaru wondered why they existed at all.
Eyes narrowed, he stared down at the village. The human village. She was there. Somewhere. It had been by complete accident that he spotted Kagome walking along the dirt path. He had been patrolling the lands on the edge of the border between the North and West. Seeing her had not been any part of his plan.
Yet, the moment he did, his feet moved before he could stop them. He had kept to the shadows, hidden away so she didn't see him. He had followed her for an hour before she made her way into the village. He couldn't explain it. All she had done was walk. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He hadn't expected it to, and yet he hadn't let her out of his sight.
Perhaps it was the damned bond between them. The cursed link he hated with a passion. It had to be a joke. The kami were punishing him for something. Giving him a human mate could only be a prank. That's the only explanation Sesshomaru's mind could conjure up.
Sesshomaru was the Heir to the West. A prince. A lord. He needed a female that could stand beside him. Not one that would cower at his heel, then die a few years later. Kagome was nothing but a weak human. She had no power to offer. She had a mortal lifespan that would have her dead in less than thirty years. She had nothing for him. Yet, she was made his mate, his soul bonded. Sesshomaru cursed the kami for it.
Aggravation causing him to bare his fangs, he forced himself to turn from the village. There was no reason for him to follow her. She meant nothing to him, would be nothing to him. For all he cared, an oni could go trampling through the village, killing everyone there, including Kagome, and he wouldn't even notice.
Feet stopping, he scanned the area, making sure there were no other demons around. After he was sure she was safe, he caught himself, realizing what he had just done. He couldn't think clearly. His mind wanted one thing, his body another. He despised the woman, wished she had never been born. She was causing this strife within him, and he would never forgive her for it.
Running at full speed, he put as much distance between himself and her as possible. He didn't trust himself not to do something stupid if he was to see her again. This indecision in him had to be because of the bond. If he could just sever the tie between them, destroy their link, he would be able to continue on without any problems. There would be no more distractions.
How though? Demons were nearly indestructible. His own mother had turned herself human just so she could kill herself. That was something he refused to do. He wouldn't be made into something he hated. His idea of cutting off his hand or slicing the flesh that bore her name wouldn't work.
Perhaps reiki would do the trick. If he could find a priestess, he could have her purify the mark from his skin. He didn't know if that would be enough, or if he could even find a priest or priestess that would be willing to harm but not kill. Still, it was something he needed to try.
Stiffening, Sesshomaru felt his father approaching and cursed himself for lingering for too long in one place near the shiro. Sesshomaru had been avoiding his father, knew the conversation they were bound to have was one he didn't even want to think of.
"You're making a mistake, Sesshomaru." Touga got right to it, barely stopping before he spoke. Sesshomaru had the urge to roll his eyes but refrained. Instead he continued to gaze out at the open field in front of him. He could see for miles.
"No, Father. It is you who made the mistake when you cast away mother for your filthy human." Sesshomaru finally turned to his father, lifting his chin slightly in arrogance and hatred. "How does it feel, knowing you're going to have to watch her die as each year passes?"
"What happened between Izayoi, Satori, and Myself does not pertain to this. Hate me all you want, Sesshomaru, but Kagome is innocent." Touga stepped forward, the breeze catching in both of their hair. "She did not kill your mother."
"No. You did. You drove mother to forsake her demon heritage just so she could slice her own throat. Humans are weak and vile. I will not have one for a mate." Meeting his father's gaze, Sesshomaru felt his heart icing over the longer they stood staring at each other. "I will take glee in watching your woman age and die before you. It will be a lesson for you to learn from."
"Leave Izayoi out of this, boy." Touga growled, and Sesshomaru smirked, knowing he got a rise out of his father.
"Think about it, father. The mutt you sired will not even be grown before Izayoi succumbs to her human heritage. She will be old and grey and still caring for an infant." Smirk growing wider, Sesshomaru let his father see his glee. "Wouldn't it be better if she and the child had died in the birth? Perhaps it would have been better if you had not met the wench at all."
"You've made your point, Sesshomaru. You hate me. You hate Izayoi. And you now hate your defenseless brother. Why stay? If you hate everything here, why deal with it?" Touga almost seemed to hope Sesshomaru left, and Sesshomaru growled.
"Do you wish to cast me aside like you did mother?" Was this it? Was this the moment his father washed his hands of him? Sesshomaru had become the outcast the moment Izayoi came into the picture. She was the new while Sesshomaru and Satori had become the old.
"Of course not. You are my son. It is why I deal with your callus and hurtful words. You are cruel to your family, but I can't bring myself to send you away. Any other I would have banned from the West, but you are my son, and despite what you feel for me, I will always love you." Touga was sincere in his little speech, leaving Sesshomaru unable to say anything. "Listen to me, Sesshomaru. I blame myself for Satori's death every day. I told you to give her space, to let her come to terms with what was happening. I should not have let her be alone. I am the only one to blame. I accept that responsibility, and I will carry it to my grave. But Kagome is not the one to hate. She is your soul bonded. If you go to her, show her who you really are, she may still give you a chance."
"I want nothing to do with her father. In fact, when you interrupted, I was contemplating breaking the bond. Would you by chance know a priestess or priest that would be willing to purify the mark from my skin." Sesshomaru lifted his arm, scowling at Kagome's name. He didn't even want to look at his wrist anymore.
"Don't do anything rash son. Besides, it would not work. Your bond goes deeper than the writing on your skin." Touga shook his head, disappointment clear on his face. "One day, maybe years from now, you are going to look back at this moment, and you are going to regret every part of it. When that happens, you better hope Kagome's heart is as forgiving as it is kind."
"You are wrong, Father. There is nothing I can ever possibly want from Kagome. There will be no regret, and she will never be mine." Sesshomaru started walking again. He needed to find some way to break the bond. "Besides, she will be dead in a few short years anyway. When old age has her crumbling in the ground, I can forget this bond ever existed."
"She is more than you think, Sesshomaru. You didn't even give her a chance. When you realize your mistake, you will have lost everything. Do not come crying to me, son. Because as it stands now, you did Kagome a favor. She deserves better than someone who is cruel and as vile as the humans he detests. I hope she finds someone that will make her happy."
Sesshomaru whirled around to face his father but was met with nothing. Touga was gone, leaving as soon as he spoke. Turning back to the field, Sesshomaru continued his patrol. His father was wrong, and Sesshomaru would prove it to him. He may not be able to break the bond, but by time he was done, Kagome would never look at him. She would hate him just as much as he hated her.
…
"Thank you so much." The woman looked up at Kagome with appreciative eyes, her hands clasped together in front of her. "I was so worried when he cut himself with the hoe. Infection comes so easily, and I can't lose him." The woman held out her wrist, indicating her soul bond mark.
Giving a tight smile, Kagome nodded. "It is my duty to help everyone. Keep the wound clean and apply the paste I have given you every day." Kagome stood, cleaning up her supplies. She left most of them for the woman, then stashed the rest into her robes.
She tried not to think on the soul bonded couple in front of her. Weeks after she had been rejected and the pain still felt as fresh as it had the day she met Sesshomaru. She tried not to think about it, tried to keep busy and her mind on things more important, things she could change. Like the outcome of this man's life.
When she was finished, she denied the food the woman tried to give her, claiming she wasn't hungry. She was. She was starving actually, but that food would be the couple's dinner. Kagome wouldn't take their only source of food for the night. She can get food elsewhere.
Perhaps she can visit Sango. She hadn't done so in a while. Miroku was always a good distraction, able to make Kagome and Sango laugh no matter what was happening around them. It would be good to see her friends.
Stepping out of the home, Kagome looked up at the sky, a true smile on her face. Her heart still hurt, refusing to beat like it once did, but she wouldn't let Sesshomaru's rejection control her life. He made his choice, and she would respect it. That also meant she was going to move on with her life. She was going to continue healing those that needed it. She was going to spend time with her family and never look back at Sesshomaru or the way he had ripped her to shreds. Sesshomaru wasn't her future, but that didn't mean she didn't have one to look forward to. She could still be happy without Sesshomaru.
...
Add a bit more angst with a little bit of jerk face Sesshomaru, and you have an entire chapter wrapped up all on one. Sesshomaru just keeps digging that hole deeper. Pretty soon, he won't even be able to fly out of it. Just wanted to say, I've been getting so many reviews, and I love it. Thank you so much for taking the time to reassure me. I know it's annoying, but your reviews really do make writing easier. With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Also, my editor Didithereaper left a little note for ya'll to read, just a little insight to the chapter she thought you would like to read about.
...
EDITOR NOTES:
So, I want to make a point here for anyone who is or might be confused as to why Sesshomaru is acting the way he has been. As we all know, Sesshomaru is the one that found his mother's lifeless body. Even as an adult, this is still a traumatic event for anyone. Even someone as cold as Sesshomaru.
He felt that her death was caused by his father indirectly. This is of course, not true. Satori's choices were her own and she never thought about the repercussions her suicide would cause. She didn't stop to think about how it would affect her son and even though Touga had found his soul bonded, she still had much to live for.
With that being said...You're all probably wondering," Well, what does any of this have to do with Kagome? Why is he being so cruel to her when she's done nothing to him?" You would be correct. She didn't do anything to him, other than being born a 'human'.
Sesshomaru is so blinded by his hate for the human race that he doesn't realize he is, quite possibly, pushing away the best thing that could ever happen to him.
In this chapter, Sesshomaru experiences something that he never has before. If you go back and reread the chapter, you will understand what I'm saying.
~DidiTheReaper~
