Sorry about the long wait. I feel really terrible for doing that to you and then. I will give a full explanation at the bottom. There won't be too many more chapters to this story.
Without further ado, ENJOY!
Chapter 10: A Peaceful? Interlude
"Look Master Jaken! Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Suriki are back!" yelled the little girl as she ran down the path.
"Finally! Lord Sesshomaru, this child has been..."
"Jaken go fetch some water," Jaken jumped at the sudden interruption. Giving a short bow he ran off to do his Lord's bidding.
Walking over to the fire, Sesshomaru carefully laid Suriki next to it. Once Jaken brought the water, he slowly searched for any wounds. Finding none, he placed a wet cloth on her forehead and moved to the other side of the fire.
Rin looked at Suriki then turned to Sesshomaru. Deciding that it would be best not to ask, she sat down in between them and played in the dirt.
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"Inuyasha we should find them!" yelled Kagome.
"No way! This is his problem, we don't need to get involved! It's not like he would want us there either," Inuyasha yelled right back. After Sesshomaru had left he had wanted to go back to Kaede's village. Kagome however wanted to find Sesshomaru and help them.
"But that demon has a jewel shard and obviously has something to do with Suriki!"
"So what! We ARE NOT going to help Sesshomaru no matter what! After we rest and get more supplies then we can come back and see if we can get the jewel."
"Inuyasha! You are so stubborn. SIT!" As Inuyasha slammed into the ground Kagome turned, picked up her bag and began to walk in the direction that Sesshomaru had went. Sango and the others picked up there things and followed leaving Inuyasha to catch up.
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As Jaken sat by the fire and Rin picked flowers near by Sesshomaru watched Suriki and thought on what she said.
"My brother had come in and killed them searching for me. I was afraid of him but I still loved him because he is my little brother. It is my duty as the older, even if it is by a few minutes, to protect the younger. I still love him and fight to give him peace. I was prepared to give him my soul to help him but then I saw you. You saved me from him."
'Does she truly fight because she cares for him?' Sesshomaru looked up at the sky. It was later in the day and only a few hours until sunset. They had traveled much of the day and the battle had not been a quick one. 'It has been an hour and she has still not awakened.'
A rustling in the forest interrupted his thoughts. Immediately on edge, Sesshomaru sniffed the air to identify the intruder. Recognizing it as the humans that traveled with Inuyasha, he calmed and looked back to the sky. 'And what did she mean when she said that is was me that saved her?'
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When Kagome finally found Sesshomaru she stopped at the edge of the path and hid in the foliage. 'What am I going to say to him? Hey Sesshomaru! I was wondering if I could travel with you to defeat the demon. That will go over well...'
"Stop hiding in the forest human, I know you are there."
Hearing Sesshomaru she quickly stepped around the tree and bowed to Sesshomaru.
"What is it that you want?"
"Ummm...well, you know that I am collecting the shards of the jewel, right? Well, that demon that we just fought has a jewel shard in it. Seeing as you and Suriki are the only ones who have been able to hurt it so far I was wondering if I could travel with you and get the jewel shard when it is dead." Kagome took a big breath and looked at Sesshomaru.
Saying nothing, Sesshomaru turned his head and looked at the others coming out of the woods behind her. Turning back to the fire Sesshomaru gave a slight nod of his head. Expecting a no, Kagome clapped her hands and smiled. Rin ran over and gave her a hug.
"Yey! Now I have more people to play with," she shouted.
"What's going on?" asked a sleepy voice.
"Suriki! You're awake. We are going to be traveling with you guys because the demon has a jewel shard that we need," explained Kagome.
"Ohh...well, welcome I guess."
"Are you hungry? I can make something!"
"No that is okay Kagome I am fine."
"We should continue if you are awake," said Sesshomaru.
Kagome frowned and was about to say that they should stay when Sango put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. Suriki stood and walked forward a little bit.
"I agree. I have mostly recovered so we can move forward before sundown."
Without saying anything else Sesshomaru stood and began walking down the path.
"And Inuyasha, if you are going to follow us then either walk on the path or hide yourself better."
Inuyasha jumped down from one of the trees lining the path and glared at Sesshomaru's back.
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They did not travel far before night but they did manage to find a small clearing off to the side. As soon as they had stopped Inuyasha sat in one of the trees while Sesshomaru sat on the opposite side. Kagome and Sango started a fire while Miroku and Jaken searched for food. Shippo and Rin played a game in the dust of the path within the others sight. Once the food had been made Sango sat and talked with Miroku, Jaken watched Rin and Shippo play their game, and Suriki and Kagome sat by the fire.
"Hey Suriki, is Sesshomaru okay? He seems kind of quiet lately," asked Kagome.
"I don't know. I think it was something that I said to him earlier. Inuyasha has been acting the same way too. They won't even come over to get food."
"Well I will take Inuyasha some food because I don't think he wants to be around Sesshomaru. Why don't you take some to Sesshomaru and talk to him?"
"Alright." Suriki stood up with a bowl of the soup and walked over to Sesshomaru. Kagome watched her go, then grabbed a bowl for Inuyasha and went to him.
"Hey, Inuyasha! Come down from there!"
"Why should I?"
"I have Ramen!" Inuyasha jumped down from his branch and took the bowl of ramen. "Inuyasha, why don't you talk to Sesshomaru? I am sure that you guys could work things out if you tried."
"Yeah right. Sesshomaru would never do that. He is just a snotty lord. Any way, I have been doing just fine without him."
"But it would be really nice if you two would stop trying to kill each other. I mean you don't have to be best friends, just on better terms with each other."
"He would never want to associate with a half demon like me. I don't want to talk to him! He is jackass."
"Inuyasha! How could you say that? He isn't that bad and he hasn't sad any thing mean to you today. I think that Suriki is really helping him."
"What ever. Thanks for the food." Inuyasha handed the empty bowl back to Kagome and jumped into the tree again. Kagome walked back to the campfire and looked over to where Suriki and Sesshomaru were sitting. 'I hope you have better luck than I did Suriki.'
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Sesshomaru stared up at the stars as Suriki approached him. She placed the bowl down and sat next to him.
"Kagome made some ramen. It is really good." Sesshomaru gave no indication that he heard her. Suriki sighed and looked up at the stars. "It has been so long since you and I have truly been able to talk Sesshomaru. Everything that as happened lately..." Another sigh sounded out into the night, "I can remember when I lived at your old castle. You would never talk to me until I defeated you at sword practice. Do remember that?"
"I under estimated you, you took advantage of that." Suriki laughed.
"But I still beat you. You stared at me like I was a monster or something. I had my sword at your throat and all you could do was stare. I started laughing and you asked me what was so funny."
"And as I recall you stopped stared at me and then yelled out. 'He talks!'"
"To which you started laughing and the guards came in to find us supporting each other as we laughed. They believed that we had gone crazy and had the doctor come in and check us over." Both demons smiled fondly at the memory. A moment of silent passed as they stared at the stars lost in the memory of that far away time.
"What happened to that little demon that smiled so easily, Sesshomaru?"
"He died a long time ago Suriki. He died when his father threw away his life for humans."
Looking at him, Suriki saw the pain in his voice reflected in his eyes. "Is that what happened? You gave up your happiness because your father found his?"
"He disgraced our family line by consorting with humans. He spent more time in their disgusting villages then at the borders protecting our lands from demons. We lost a quarter of our lands during that time. I had to take control."
"No, you are this way because you could not see why. Your father was sad at the loss of your mother, the end to his friendship with my father. He found his happiness with the humans and you got jealous didn't you?"
"What are you saying Suriki?" His eyes bore into her as she looked back up at the stars.
"You were jealous because he became happy when you were so sad. You were mad because you had to grow up so soon when all you wanted to do was play. So you locked that happy little boy up and forgot about him and his emotions."
"Emotions are weak. I had no need of them. They stopped me from doing my job and protecting my land and its needs"
"But you forgot about your own needs! You neglected yourself in order to protect the land. If you could only see how much it hurts others to see you like this, so devoid of life."
"Why should I care for myself when no else does! Ever since my mother died father never stayed around. He left me alone. I had no one. And no one bothered to need me. When you came I finally had a purpose and then you left. Everyone leaves in the end. So why bother to suffer when they do? It is better to never get attached in the first place."
"No. It may hurt when they leave but it hurts worse if you never let them close. Please Sesshomaru let me be close to you. I believe that the little boy I knew so well is in there somewhere. I what to help you heal."
"There is nothing to heal. I can never be that way again, Suriki. It is useless to try."
"Then let me help you find a new life! Let me show you all the joys of life. It isn't as bad as you think. Please Sesshomaru. I want to be with you, but not like this. Not as some companion that is by your side until the common enemy is gone. I want to be with you forever, Sesshomaru. And I promise I will never leave you." Suriki's eyes stared pleadingly into Sesshomaru's eyes. She saw his mask waver as he thought. After a moment he looked back at her and nodded his head. Suriki smiled and gave him a hug. Sesshomaru stiffened but slowly relaxed and placed a hand on her shoulders. Moving back Suriki smiled brightly and picked the bowl of ramen again, pushing it into his hands "First things first, eat. You need it and the ramen is really good." Suriki couldn't help but laugh when she saw the death glare Sesshomaru was giving the bowl. "It won't bite! Just eat it already!" With a resigned sigh Sesshomaru slowly began to eat. After making sure that he would eat all of it Suriki stood and walked back to the campfire.
"So I am guessing it worked?" asked Kagome when Suriki sat down again.
"How did you guess?"
"Well judging by your enormous smile it couldn't have been that bad."
Suriki blushed and looked down. Peeking at Kagome from behind her bangs and noticed her frown. "Didn't work out with Inuyasha?"
"No. He can be so stubborn sometimes..." Kagome's words trailed off as she poked at the fire.
Frowning Suriki stood and stretched. "You seem like you don't want to talk so I won't ask. I am going to bed. I think tomorrow is going to be a long day." With one last look to make sure Kagome was okay, Suriki walked to spot further away and curled up to sleep.
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As soon as the sun broke the horizon Sesshomaru woke up the camp. Inuyasha yelled at him and within a minuet they were fighting. The others shook their heads and set up a fire for breakfast. Miroku started to walk over in order to stop the fight but Suriki stopped him with a shake of her head.
"They need the practice and this will reduce the amount of fights later today."
Miroku sigh and sat down next to Sango.
"I just don't why they see the need to fight all the time," said Kagome as heated up some food.
"It just helps them both get out some anger that has built up. It helps to spar every once in a while. They just...take it a step further."
"I guess your right Suriki but still..."
"Don't worry Kagome, I think that Sesshomaru will be easier on him today." At that point a strong wind ripped through the campsite followed by a loud boom and Inuyasha's cursing. "Or maybe not."
"With a victorious smirk Sesshomaru sat down at the fire and accepted the food Suriki held out to him. A few seconds later Inuyasha sat down opposite him and slowly ate what Kagome gave him. They could all see that Inuyasha's clothes were torn and he had a growing black eye while Sesshomaru looked fine. Rin giggled at the two brothers and earned a glare from Inuyasha. Which in turned earned him a whack from Kagome. Suriki, Sango and Miroku sighed. Today would be a long day indeed.
Okay here is what happened. I had to prepare for finals which resulted in a writers block. After school got out I got a job and my laptop crashed. After my lap top was fixed I was busy with my job and wasn't able to write for awhile. Finally I had a really good idea but was stopped half way through the chapter with a new writers block. An emotional revealing conversation with Sesshomaru is very very hard to write. But I finally did write it. I hope that you guys were able to understand it. Thank you for sticking around and please review. I would like to know that SOMEONE is still reading this. Sadly the next chapter might take awhile as well. Thank you for your continued support. Hint: that means please support me through reviews ;)
