A1969: you know, I really enjoy writing these chapters so much—I guess that's why I make them long-ish.
Kagome: ish?
A1969: yeah! Anyway…Inuyasha, take it away!
Inuyasha: finally! The author would like to—
Sesshoumaru: the author wishes to offer her sincere thanks to those of you humans who've read and reviewed, and those who've bothered with putting this story on their favorites and alerts.
Inuyasha: dammit! Will you stop stealing my lines, Sesshoumaru?!
Miroku & Sango: Ahh…brotherly love.
Inuyasha: say that again!
Sesshoumaru: you will die.
A1969: a-anyway…enjoy!
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-Chapter Thirty-Eight-
.:Checkmate:.
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Sesshoumaru
It was exceptionally bright.
I stared at up at the night sky, at that speck of brightness that seemed to outdo the others. Clara had called it the brightest star in the night sky—the Dog star. Rather fitting.
Leaning my head against the wooden wall, I closed my eyes and let my senses rove about. Inuyasha and the miko had both fallen asleep in one of the palace rooms. I was genuinely surprised that the half-breed was not snoring—I had expected it from him. Perhaps the fool was, for once, being wise and staying awake.
I could hear Totosai's even breathing coming from a room farther along the veranda. He slept soundly, it seemed—old fool. As for the god…I could not find him. Hn.
She suddenly stirred.
I looked down at her. I had shifted her, so her head lay on my lap. Her breathing was deep and even—a peaceful sleep. I let my eyes jump from one feature of her face to the next—her brow; her closed eyes, the lashes long and thick; her nose; her lips…
I scoffed, and glanced back towards the heavens. These emotions were indeed distracting, and yet, they were becoming less and less of a bother.
I lowered my eyes to her neck. The miko had taken it upon herself to treat Clara's injuries from the battle with Yuki before we had left for Kasai's mountain. I carefully brushed my fingers against the piece of cloth that Kagome had placed over the wound. I frowned. The wound had been a shallow cut, but it was right above her jugular.
Idiot girl. Had she failed to realize how close she had been to death?
I let my fingers brush against her lips, remembering the way she had fought Yuki. Truth be told, I had been proud of the way she had fought. However, she had almost lost and, admittedly, I had nearly lost my composure as I had continued to watch her fight. It had taken a tremendous amount of self-control not to storm Midoriko's barrier with every bit of power I had.
Looking down at her again, I allowed myself the satisfaction of letting my fingers twine her hair. It had grown longer since I had met her first. My eyes fell to a small glint of gold at her neckline—her locket. Very carefully, I tugged the gold chain, until the pendant came free from the neckline of her haori. I held the pendant for a moment or two, remembering the sweet, haunting melody it emitted when opened. I flipped it. On the underside of the locket, were letters I could not comprehend. I gently placed the pendant back on her chest.
I let the back of my hand brush lightly against her cheek. With her eyes closed, and her face calm, Clara looked somewhat delicate in the moonlight. In that small instant, the burning desire to protect her overwhelmed me, much like the physical blows dealt by an enemy. However, these blows were something I had no need to dodge.
Sighing, I draped my pelt over her body, and allowed my hand to rest on her shoulder. I let my eyes linger on her face—she was serene, her breathing deep and even.
"Have you someone to protect?"
Father's voice echoed through my thoughts once more, with the last question he had asked me before he had met his end. Heh.
Father, if you could see what this girl has done to me, would you be proud or, perhaps, amused?
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Clara
I felt stronger.
As I held the sword tightly in my grasp, I felt the horde of demons closing in around me. They were not alone. There was another presence with them, just as malevolent, just as wicked, with intentions just as evil as theirs…
I knew their combined strength would overwhelm me eventually…
And it was something that I must not allow.
Two must become one, if the darkness was to be destroyed.
As I raised my sword against the horde of demons before me, I could not help but let a single prayer slip through my lips…
"Forgive me."
. . .
I gasped as my eyes flew open. I could feel my heart racing at a million miles an hour, feel the cold sweat on my forehead. It had been a while since I'd had those dreams again…And, like always, I couldn't understand what they meant…
I blinked. A pair of cold, golden eyes was looking down at me.
I blushed as a tendril of Sesshoumaru's hair fell across his shoulder, brushing lightly against my cheek. The warm sunlight that fell across his face made his eyes seem almost warm. My blush deepened when I realized that my head was lying on his lap. How did that happen?
"You're frightened," he remarked.
Could he hear how fast my heart was beating? Did he know that it was beating this fast not because of my dream, but because of…this?
"Not really," I said, keeping my voice calm. "Just a little…surprised. Good morning, by the way."
"Hn."
Somewhat reluctant, I sat up, blinking as the morning sun hit my eyes. I vaguely wondered how I'd managed to sleep through all the racket the birds were making.
"Clara."
I turned to him. He tilted his head slightly, and his eyes were narrowed almost analytically at me, as though trying to figure something out.
"Why were you frightened?" he asked.
"Frightened…?" Huh. Waking up to the sight of his eyes was far from frightening, actually…and then I remembered the dream. Had I really been so frightened in my sleep that he would notice?
"Oh," I went on, looking down at the wooden floor between us. "It's nothing. Just a dream, that's all, no big deal."
I could feel his eyes on me, and I reluctantly looked up. Maybe it was just the sunlight, or maybe I was only half-awake and imagining things, but his eyes seemed so warm…
He pulled his eyes away from mine, and looked towards the end of the veranda, just as Kagome and Inuyasha rounded the corner. Kagome was chattering happily to Inuyasha, while the hanyou folded his arms. His stubborn expression made me wonder just what they were talking about. They stopped as they caught sight of Sesshoumaru and me.
"Hey!" Kagome said, waving cheerfully. Inuyasha kept his eyes fixed warily on his brother. It didn't escape my notice that Kagome somehow looked…satisfied with something.
"You two should eat, you know," Kagome went on, as she came closer. "I don't know about you guys, but Kasai's cooking is the best I've ever eaten in my life! But then again, he is a god."
Sesshoumaru stood abruptly, and leapt gracefully off the veranda. He threw me one last look before he stalked off towards Kasai's immaculate gardens.
"What's his problem?" Inuyasha muttered.
. . .
"And how are you enjoying the food?" Kasai asked us as we ate.
We were seated at the low ornate table he had shown us last night. And, like last night, it was once again laden with a variety of dishes fit for an emperor.
"Good, as always!" Totosai said. He was holding a charred piece of…newt in one hand.
"Why can't you be this welcoming, eh?" Inuyasha said to the old demon. He was eating at a speed that should have already made him choke, had he been human. "Hey!" Inuyasha roared, ducking as Totosai threw a chopstick at him.
"Inuyasha, don't fight at the table," Kagome reprimanded, almost maternally.
"Why're you on his side?" Inuyasha grumbled.
"Anyway," I said, as everyone finally finished eating. "Lord Kasai, about the Tenseiga…" I held the bundle of cloth for him to see.
"Give them here," Kasai said. He waved his hand once, and the remnants of breakfast vanished. I slid the bundle that held the fragments of Tenseiga towards him. He opened it. Tenseiga's fragments glistened in the sunlight filtering through the open shutters.
"Hm…" He picked up a piece, and brought them close to his eye. "Well, this is a very happy sword," he remarked, his attention fixed on Totosai.
"But it's shattered," I pointed out. The fact that they kept saying that Tenseiga was—of all things—happy unnerved me. It really was a sentient sword…and I'd broken it. "Shouldn't it be…I don't know…not happy?"
"Unlike the Tessaiga, the Tenseiga is a selfless blade," Totosai spoke up. "While the Tessaiga takes the power of the foes it vanquishes, the Tenseiga gives life back. Why should the sword be happy?"
Well, he just threw the question back at me. Across me, Inuyasha and Kagome both looked curious. On either end of the table, both Totosai and Kasai waited for us to figure it out on our own.
Tenseiga was a selfless sword…so…did that mean that it also needed a selfless master, a master that matched its altruistic nature?
Before I'd gotten to know him, I would have never used 'selfless' and 'Sesshoumaru' in the same sentence—he just didn't cut it. But now…
"Because it has a master who's just as selfless as it is," I said, smiling at Totosai.
"Bwahahaha!" Inuyasha suddenly burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. I jumped, a tinge of embarrassment on my cheeks. Well, that certainly wasn't the reaction I was expecting.
"Sesshoumaru…selfless!" Inuyasha howled, banging his fists on the table. "Best…joke…I've heard…in decades!"
I frowned at him. "It's the truth, you know," I said, annoyed. "I mean, he does risk his own safety for Rin's sake…"
"And yours," Kagome pointed out. Sesshoumaru had…because of his debt to Kikyou, that is. I didn't bother pointing that out to her, though.
Inuyasha had stopped laughing as he considered our words—and then he laughed again. "Good…good one!" the hanyou spluttered, his eyes popping. Totosai and Kasai threw each other looks of annoyance. I take it, they were wondering which one of them would have to silence the annoying hanyou.
They didn't need to. A second later, a pebble whizzed through the open shutters and, with pinpoint accuracy, struck Inuyasha between the eyes with a loud clonk!
"Argh!" Inuyasha shouted, as he fell backward onto the floor. A moment later, Sesshoumaru entered the room. It was amazing how much authority one person could emit.
Sesshoumaru crossed his arms as he looked down at his brother with cold eyes. Even without the armor, he still looked intimidating.
"Most graceful, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru sneered.
"Why, you jerk!" Inuyasha snapped, sitting back up. There was an angry red welt between his eyes.
Kagome sighed. "Sit."
Inuyasha swore loudly as the enchanted beads pulled him down to the floor with a loud crash! "You can tell they are brothers," Kasai said pleasantly, sipping a cup of tea. Totosai nodded in agreement, missing the glare Sesshoumaru threw his way.
"Anyway," I said loudly. I turned back to Kasai as Sesshoumaru sat gracefully beside me. "Lord Kasai…would you re-forge the Tenseiga for us?"
Kasai tilted his head at me. For once, he didn't look like a lecher, but a wise, old, god. "I will re-forge the Tenseiga for you," he conceded.
I smiled brightly at him. "Thank you!" I said happily.
"However," the old god went on, and I automatically felt my bubble bursting. "I want you to do something in return."
"Me?" I asked.
"Of course," Kasai said. "You're the one with the request, after all. And you should feel honored—I don't usually heed mortals, but I'm willing to make an exception since Tenseiga is a unique sword."
I suddenly remembered the way he had puckered his lips yesterday, and I felt my stomach completely vanish. "Er…what do I have to do?" I asked hesitantly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sesshoumaru narrow his eyes dangerously at Kasai.
"It's quite simple, really," Kasai said, stroking his long beard. "For the time it takes me to re-forge the blade, I want you to remain awake."
I blinked. "Awake…as in…not asleep?" It was a trick, right? I mean…that seemed too easy. Inuyasha, Kagome, and even Totosai looked muddled.
"You got it!" the little god said, nodding. "You don't get to close those eyes of yours, and no naps either."
It was Sesshoumaru who asked the question that I failed to consider. "How long will it take you to re-forge the Tenseiga?" the demon lord asked.
"Oh, just…three days, and three nights," Kasai said, shrugging. "And I'll be starting this morning."
My eyes widened slightly. That long? The longest I've ever gone without sleep was…never. Could I? What am I saying? I quickly shoved the doubt aside.
"I'll do it," I said.
"Are you sure?" Kagome asked with uncertainty.
I nodded, and grinned at her. "It'll be fine," I reassured her. I paused. "You don't happen to have any caffeine in that backpack, do you?" I asked, sheepish.
She gave me a flat look.
"Well, now!" Kasai said, as he stood from the table, taking the bundle of Tenseiga's fragments with him. "I'll be off. You youngsters make sure my palace is in one piece, understood? C'mon, Totosai, we've got work to do!"
"Hm? It's your job!"
"Yes, but friends help one another!" So saying the little god grasped Totosai's hand and dragged him out the sliding door.
"Old loons," Inuyasha muttered.
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Kagome
It was late afternoon when I found Clara sitting on one of the stone benches in Kasai's garden. She was holding an open notebook in her lap, and tapping a pencil thoughtfully against the page. Studying? I glanced around. Sesshoumaru was nowhere in sight.
"Hey, Clara," I called out.
She looked up, surprised. "Hey," she greeted, somewhat distractedly, as she bent her head over the notebook again.
I sat beside her. I took a moment to admire the garden. Water sparkled in the sunlight from several ponds filled with koi fish. A wooden bridge spanned an entire stream that fed the ponds. Trees of paulownia, oak, and willow dotted the garden here and there, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. Bushes with flowers I'd never seen before were scattered among the ponds, with artistic abandon.
I wouldn't have expected a place like this to exist on Mt. Fuji. But then again, this was the Feudal Era, where demons existed and gods roamed the earth. I should be used to surprises by now.
I turned back to Clara. On the pages of the notebook, I could make out the familiar musical staffs that we'd studied once for class.
"Are you composing something?" I asked, intrigued. I wasn't very musical myself, but I could sing (despite what Souta said).
"Yup!" Clara said, as she drew a note on the staff. "I'm almost done with it, actually."
"Your mom did mention that you could play piano," I said. "I never knew that." As I stared at her notebook, I noticed that she'd written the title—Distant—in English…as well as a name. "Er…Clara?" I asked, eyes fixed on the name.
"Hmm?"
"This song," I went on. "It's for Se—"
Quick as a flash, Clara reached over and clamped her hand to my mouth. "Shh!" she said quickly. "Yes, yes it is." She blushed crimson. "I wrote in English, because I knew he wouldn't be able to understand. I should have written in French."
I nodded, and she removed her hand. "Why don't you just show it to him?" I suggested.
Her blush deepened. "I…I can't possibly…that's absurd," she stuttered. She had switched to English, probably afraid of being overheard by Sesshoumaru.
I wasn't that fluent at the language, but I knew enough. "You should," I said, switching to English as well. "I mean, it's obvious that he cares about you, and you already told us that you love him, so…why not?"
She closed the notebook, and stared at the garden. Her eyes looked distant, thoughtful. "Because I'm human, Kagome," she said quietly. "Takeshi may have given me his immortality, but that doesn't mean I'm less human. Sesshoumaru is a great demon—he would never care for a human that way."
"But he protects you, you know," I pointed out. "Believe me when I say he's a whole lot different now. When we first met, he tried to kill both Inuyasha and me."
Her eyes widened in shock, and I quickly regretted my words. "But don't worry, he's changed," I said quickly. "When he met Rin, he started becoming nicer. Now that he's met you, he's starting to be more caring."
She was quiet for a moment, her eyes fixed on the sky. Several sparrows flew overhead. "What if I told you," she said, not looking at me, "that he's only protecting me, because of his debt to Kikyou?"
Argh! This girl was hopeless. But then again, it wasn't really my place to judge. "He's taken you to Mt. Tenku," I pointed out. "His debt is repaid. He even went out of his way to save you from it." I paused for a moment. She didn't look convinced.
I weighed my words carefully. "Or…are you just afraid of telling him?"
Her eyes widened. No longer sapphire, they had become a dull, dreary blue. "Maybe I am," she said thoughtfully.
"Then don't be!" I huffed. "Just tell him!"
"Oh, but I did," she said, quirking an eyebrow.
"You did?" I asked, astonished. "What did he say?!"
"Nothing," she said, looking up at the sky again. "He couldn't understand French."
I couldn't help it—I hit her on her uninjured shoulder. "Ow!" Clara said, surprised.
"Don't be an idiot!" I snapped.
"Easy for you to say," she pointed out. I sighed, remembering that it was Inuyasha who had confessed to me first.
"Can you promise me something?" I asked, after we'd both fallen silent.
"Depends…" she said suspiciously.
"Just promise me you'll try to tell him how you feel," I said.
She blushed a spectacular shade of red. Clara blushed easily when Sesshoumaru was concerned. "I'll try," she said. "But I can't promise."
I sighed. "Well, that's better than nothing," I said. I switched to Japanese. "Anyway, how's your shoulder doing?"
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Clara
I yawned as I stared at the alarm clock Kagome had put on the ornate table. A quarter past ten. We'd eaten dinner earlier on—Sesshoumaru had been conspicuously absent again—and whiled away the time talking. Kagome and Inuyasha had both agreed to help me stay awake.
"Clara, do you want to play?" Kagome asked, fishing a chessboard out of her backpack. It was amazing how many things she could fit into it. Unfortunately, of the many things in her backpack, none of them had any caffeine.
"Sure," I said, as she knelt and set the board on the table. Inuyasha came closer as we set up the pieces, his golden eyes glinting with curiosity as he knelt beside Kagome.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Chess," Kagome explained, arranging the black pieces on her side. "It's the Western equivalent of Shogi, Inuyasha." She then explained the basic moves each piece could make.
Inuyasha scoffed. "I'd rather be on a real battlefield," he said.
"Only a fool like you could fail to comprehend the importance of strategy, Inuyasha."
We turned to the open shoji screen, where Sesshoumaru stood, arms crossed imperiously across his chest. "Say that again," Inuyasha snapped, narrowing his eyes at his elder brother.
Sesshoumaru ignored him, his eyes fixed with a masked curiosity on the chessboard. "Do you want to try?" I asked, holding up my king. "Like Kagome said, it's just like Shogi, but played a little differently." Though, I had no idea what Shogi was.
To my surprise, he sat gracefully beside me, cold eyes fixed on the pieces. He tilted his head slightly, a small action that would have gone unnoticed, if you weren't watching him carefully. I stifled the urge to giggle—it reminded me of the way a curious puppy cocked its head to the side.
"C'mon, Inuyasha, I think I left something in the garden earlier," Kagome said, as she suddenly stood.
"Huh? Do I have to"—Kagome glared—"fine, fine, I'm coming."
I blushed as they both left the room. Kagome…you idiot
My cheeks warmed as I felt Sesshoumaru's eyes on me. "Well, do you want to?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Hn."
I'll take that as a 'yes'. "This is a pawn," I said, holding up the white piece. "It can move two squares forward, if it's here, and one square once it crosses enemy lines…"
I spent the next thirty minutes explaining how the other pieces moved, and the basic rules of the game. To his credit, Sesshoumaru was a very fast learner (I think it was a demon thing). I took the white pieces, while he took the black.
I moved a pawn first, and his eyes narrowed almost intently at it, before he moved one of his own pawns. It didn't take long for the pieces to pile up on each of our sides. I wasn't that good of a chess player, but seeing as Sesshoumaru was still a beginner…
"Check and mate," I said with a flourish, toppling his king with my queen. Remembering all the times he had knocked Shinsei from my hands, I felt immensely proud of myself.
He quirked an eyebrow at me. "Mate?" he asked. I could hear the confusion hidden in his voice.
I blinked at him. "Oh!" I said. "Sorry, I forgot. 'Check' is when you expose your opponent's king to attack. 'Checkmate' is cornering the king, so escape is impossible. In short, it's when the king is captured."
Sesshoumaru held up his king, eyes narrowed intently at me. "So, you've caught me," he said quietly.
I blushed. There was something about that look…
"Yes," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I glanced at the alarm clock beside the chessboard. Half past eleven. "Round two?"
"Very well."
I smiled at him. Oh, he didn't like to lose—especially not to a human.
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Sesshoumaru
Though a human game, this 'chess' had its intrigue. I was an excellent tactician, on or off the battlefield. However, this game was new and, admittedly, I had yet to master it. It would be easy enough.
I stared at Clara from across the board. Her sapphire eyes were narrowed intently at her pieces. I could almost hear the cogs turning in her head as she thought of her next move.
My eyes fell on my king. Clara had captured the piece earlier, cornering it so escape was impossible. Try as I might to move the piece, its fate had been sealed—it had been captured. Caught and ensnared by a queen whom I had once thought was insignificant and weak, and whose presence I had tried to counter to no avail. Escape was impossible.
Checkmate.
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Clara
I should have known that my winning streak wouldn't last. As one game followed another, Sesshoumaru seemed to get better and better until he had effectively cornered my king with a pawn and his queen in the fourth game. I looked up at him, trying not to look astonished, and failing miserably. Life was not fair.
"And now," Sesshoumaru said quietly, taking hold of my king with his fingers, "I've caught you."
What was that look in his eyes? Amusement? Derision? Mockery? Or maybe I was just sleepy, and seeing things. I shook my head. I can't afford to fall asleep.
"Again," I said. I tried not to sound peeved at losing to a beginner. Demons.
. . .
"How're you holding up?" Kagome asked me the next morning.
I was sitting on the mossy bank next to a pond filled with koi fish. I had my notebook open on my lap, and my pencil in one hand. I had yet to finish the piece I was composing—there were things I wanted to add, things I wanted to change. The shallow gash at my left shoulder ached dully.
Kagome sat down next to me, wrapping her arms around her knees. "A bit drowsy, but I'll live," I said.
She was quiet for a moment, then she switched to English. "You'd do anything for him, wouldn't you?" she said, giving me a small smile.
I pressed the pencil on the page a bit too forcefully. "Um…er…"
"C'mon, Clara, we all know how you feel," she pointed out.
I blushed, and didn't bother to answer her. "So, how'd the chess game go?" she asked. I felt grateful for the switch in topic.
"I won, at first," I said, erasing a stray half-note. "And then he won…and kept winning and winning. Is there an unspoken rule that demons have to be good at everything they do?"
"I wouldn't say 'everything'," Kagome said, chuckling just as Inuyasha came into view.
"What?" Inuyasha asked suspiciously, as Kagome and I giggled. He sat next to Kagome. "Why were you two laughing?"
"Oh, nothing," Kagome said cheerfully.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "You were talking about me, weren't you?"
"You're not the center of the universe, Inuyasha," Kagome pointed out.
"You were, weren't you?" Inuyasha persisted.
"We weren't!"
"You were! You were laughing!"
"Oh, sit boy!"
. . .
As the day wore on, I could feel the sleep threatening to take hold of me. Every time I yawned, it felt as though my eyes would snap shut. There were times when Kagome or Inuyasha had to stop me from falling asleep. As night slowly approached, I could feel my eyes threatening to close, as though two little Jaken-like demons were tugging my eyelids down.
Inuyasha, Kagome, and I were gathered around the low, ornate table in the guestroom. I hadn't seen Sesshoumaru during the day, and during the earlier part of the evening. I was too used to his disappearances to be worried, but I couldn't help but wonder…
After dinner, Kagome sent Inuyasha out so she could change the dressings on my shoulder. I removed my haori and held it close to my chest as Kagome carefully changed the dressings.
"You're lucky it isn't that deep," Kagome said.
I flinched as I felt the sting of the antiseptic she used. "Do you think it'll leave a scar?" I asked, now wide awake.
"Maybe," she said, applying a new dressing. "You could see a dermatologist, if it bothers you."
"It doesn't really," I said. "My mother, on the other hand, will be."
Kagome tied the bandages in place. "I can see why," she said. "She was a model, wasn't she?"
I nodded. "She used to tell me that her life had been empty," I said, suddenly overwhelmed with longing for my mother. "That the life of fame and fortune was so hollow, it was like living with nothing to live for. That it was the life of a machine. And then she met my father."
"You miss her, don't you?"
"Both of them," I said, sighing.
Kagome finished, and I pulled on my haori. I covered my mouth as I yawned. Urgh…I felt so sleepy. I shook my head rapidly. C'mon Clara, just this night, and one more and you're done.
"Kagome, do you have anything I could read?" I asked. Kagome had offered to stay awake with me, but I wouldn't hear of it.
She fished out her algebra textbook. I stared at her with disbelief as she held it out to me. "You know…math might be the reason the Tenseiga won't be re-forged," I warned her. "Do you have anything else?"
"Just textbooks," she said apologetically.
I sighed as I took the algebra textbook from her with thanks. "Might as well study," I grumbled, sliding the door to the veranda open. I stepped out onto the veranda, and sat down in the light cast by the open door. I could hear Inuyasha enter the room through the other door, heard him ask Kagome how she was doing…
I flipped open the textbook, and felt the wind knocked out of me.
All those letters…all those x's, y's, a's, b's…what were these letters doing here?! Where were the numbers? And then there were…arrows…long division…graphs…
"Now this is a true demon," I said, staring with horror at the page. "Possibly even more scary than Naraku…"
"Indeed?"
I jumped. Sesshoumaru was sitting beside me, arms folded, and golden eyes fixed on the book in my hands. "You really have to stop doing that," I said, my heart thudding. Huh. At least I was a bit more alert now.
He wasn't listening, his attention focused on the algebra book on my lap. "I'd like to introduce you to mankind's most horrible invention," I said, showing him the book. "Math."
He took the book from me, eyes scanning the pages with a cold, calculating look. He flicked the page, and then raised an eyebrow at me.
"It's simple enough," he said, handing it back to me.
Was it possible for your eyes to actually fall out of their sockets from shock? "Wait…wait!" I said, holding up my hands. "You're saying you can…understand…algebra?"
"Is that what you call it?" he asked apathetically. "It is nothing more than simple analysis."
He did not just say that algebra was…simple. Demons.
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Kagome
Clara didn't look so good.
She was slumped against the table, her head resting on her outstretched arm, and her eyes wide open. She was drumming her fingers on the table. It took me a moment to realize that she was drumming her fingers as though she were striking the keys of a piano. There were shadows beneath her eyes, and her hair looked mussed up.
I glanced at the clock beside her. Eleven in the morning.
"Clara?" I said hesitantly.
She looked up at me with tired eyes. I felt guilty as I remembered the peaceful sleep I had last night. "Je suis bon," she said, as she sat up and stretched.
"What?" I asked.
She blinked, then shook her head. "Sorry," she mumbled, switching back to Japanese. "Just a little confused. I'm good."
"Hey, you don't look so good," Inuyasha remarked to Clara as he entered the room.
I patted Clara on the back. "Don't worry, this is the last night, then you can sleep in the morning," I said.
"Starbucks," Clara moaned, slumping back against the table.
. . .
Clara didn't leave the room as the day slowly passed by. Inuyasha and I had taken turns trying to keep her awake by scaring the heck out of her. It worked—until her screams brought Sesshoumaru into the room, Bakusaiga held at the ready. Sesshoumaru, not pleased, had thrown Inuyasha a very dirty look, before he sat gracefully against the wall at the opposite end of the room.
Protective, wasn't he?
Just as the sun was setting, the door to the room suddenly slid open with a loud bang! making everyone—except Sesshoumaru—jump in surprise. We were even more surprised to find Totosai and Kasai standing in the doorway, both looking pleased with themselves.
"What the heck are you two doing here?" Inuyasha asked as the demon and god entered the room.
"It's done!" Kasai said, proudly holding out the Tenseiga. Its sheath gleamed in the light from the brazier. It looked good as new.
Clara swayed as she got to her feet and Sesshoumaru was suddenly beside her, holding her steady. "But I thought you said three days and three nights!" Clara said, as she took the sword from Kasai. She clutched it close to her chest.
"She hasn't been sleeping for three days and two nights, since you told her to stay awake while you re-forged the Tenseiga!" I huffed. Seriously? Was this guy actually a god?
"Huh?" Kasai said, scratching his head. "I did?"
"You did!" Totosai said. Yeesh…they really are friends.
"Who would ask that?" Kasai said, as we all gave him flat looks. "That's nothing more than useless folly!"
And before the little god could say anything else, Sesshoumaru's boot came down on his head, sending him crashing to the floor.
"Ow!" Kasai shouted as Sesshoumaru kept him pinned down. He flailed his arms, trying to free himself. "Let me go already!"
The demon lord narrowed his eyes dangerously at Kasai, before he removed his foot. "What ingratitude!" the little god huffed as he stood and dusted his clothes off.
I turned to Clara. She smiled, almost sardonically, before she suddenly closed her eyes and fell. Sesshoumaru caught her, and easily lifted her in his arms, her head resting against his fluffy pelt.
"She's asleep," Inuyasha remarked. She was still clutching the Tenseiga to her chest.
"Let her," I said. I was satisfied to see a look in Sesshoumaru's eyes, a look that wouldn't have been there had he not met the girl in his arms.
I was positive now, more than ever, that there was something there! There just had to be!
Now, if only these two would admit it to each other.
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Clara
There was something warm on my face, something warm and bright.
I slowly opened my eyes. Sunlight was streaming softly through the closed shutters. I was lying on a futon, the blanket drawn up to my chin. Huh…what happened?
"Hey, you're awake!" The door to the room slid open, and Kagome walked in.
I sat up, a hand on my head. "What happened?" I asked.
"Kasai was able to finish the Tenseiga last night," I reminded her, sitting at the edge of her futon. "And then you passed out."
"Oh, right," I mumbled, yawning. I glanced around. "Where's the Tenseiga?"
"Don't worry, Sesshoumaru has it," she said. "You should get something to eat. We'll be leaving soon, before Sesshoumaru decides to kill Kasai…if that's even possible."
I got up and stretched, my joints popping as I yawned. It felt so good to finally have gotten some sleep! I washed my face in a basin in a corner, the cold water effectively waking me up.
"Clara," Kagome began. Her tone was so serious, I quickly turned to her. She suddenly switched to English. "You know…I really do think Sesshoumaru cares about you—a lot. Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"
I felt my face grow hot. "You're reading him wrong, Kagome," I said sadly. "I told you before—I'm human. He couldn't possibly…"
She shook her head. "I never thought I'd meet someone even denser than Inuyasha," she said, sighing. "But Clara, I think he does."
I was quiet. As much as I wanted him to, that just seemed…too good to be true. "If he did," I said, picking my words carefully, "he would tell me himself. He's…very direct Kagome, and I don't think he'd beat around the bush when it came to something he wanted."
She twiddled her thumbs. "Uh…how do I say this?" she said. "Have you ever considered…that maybe…Sesshoumaru is…shy?"
Luckily, I wasn't holding anything—I would have dropped it from shock. "Sacrebleu!" I exclaimed. "You…you didn't just use the word 'shy' to describe Sesshoumaru, did you?"
Our eyes met—and then we both howled with laughter. "You're right, what was I thinking?" Kagome said, chuckling. "That was a really stupid thing to say." She paused for a moment, then turned serious again. "But he really cares about you, even if he doesn't say it. Actions speak louder than words, Clara—especially in his case. Think about it, won't you?"
She didn't give me a chance to reply as she left.
. . .
I bowed to Kasai as he ushered us out the gates. Kagome held Ah-Un's reigns, while Inuyasha regarded the two-headed dragon with apprehension. Sesshoumaru, once again wearing his impeccable armor, was already walking ahead of us, not even throwing the place a backward glance.
"Thank you so much for your help, Lord Kasai," I said bowing to him. I straightened and smiled.
The little god nodded. "Anything for lovely friends of Totosai's," he said, nodding to Totosai.
"And thank you for putting up with us," Kagome spoke up.
Kasai huffed, and folded his arms. "Oh, I'd put up with you pretty young ladies any time," he said, winking at Kagome. Inuyasha shot him a dirty look, and cracked his knuckles menacingly.
"Ehe," Kagome said, a sweat-drop forming. "Anyway, goodbye!" She hastily tugged on Ah-Un's reigns, and the dragon lumbered after her.
"Perverted old loon," Inuyasha said darkly as we walked away.
"At least he didn't ask anyone to bear his children," I pointed out.
We stopped in our tracks, as Kasai's voice suddenly called out from behind us. "Oh, and Midoriko?" the little god called.
We turned back to him, surprised. "That jewel that you have, the Sacred Jewel," he said, and I withdrew the jewel from my sleeve. How did he even know I had it…?
"What about it?" I asked, clenching my fist around the jewel.
He walked towards me, until he was about several feet away. He stared at the jewel, before turning back to me. "It's killing you," he said.
What?
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Kagome
We froze as we stared at Kasai. The silence that followed his words was total. We looked down at the little god, flabbergasted. What was he saying? Inuyasha looked taken aback, while Clara looked stunned.
Sesshoumaru was the first person to break the silence. "Elaborate," the demon lord ordered.
Kasai huffed and crossed his arms. "How uncouth," he said. "I noticed it the first time I saw you." He looked up at Clara. For once, he didn't look like a pervert. "I thought you knew, but the longer I observed you, the more I became convinced that you were blind to what Midoriko was doing."
"Mi…Midoriko?" Clara asked.
"This is why I told Kaijin not to attempt it," he said under his breath. "You all knew of the demon lord Kaijin, I take it? Former Lord of the North, and Midoriko's demon lover?"
We nodded. Clara had told us the story already. "You," Kasai said, turning to Sesshoumaru, "would know. I believe you fought alongside your father in a war against Kaijin."
"Do not waste my time," Sesshoumaru warned. There was a dangerous edge to his voice.
Kasai huffed again, before turning back to Clara. "Then you must know of Kaijin's folly, when he learned that Midoriko had perished and birthed the Sacred Jewel," he continued. "When he had learned of Midoriko's fate, he had come to me, pleading that I save his lover. Gods are not allowed to meddle excessively in this world's affairs, and I turned him down.
"You must know, Kaijin was an extremely powerful sorcerer. He came up with a most ludicrous idea—he would split Midoriko's soul within the jewel. He would reincarnate the other half, and leave the other behind. He would do the same for his own soul, so that he would be with her in another life.
"It was absurd and foolish, I had warned him. There were so many things that could go wrong with such a spell, especially for half a reincarnated soul. You see, a soul is meant to be whole and pure. When the other half would meet the other, both would try to become one—"
I suddenly remembered the day Kikyou had been resurrected. I remembered how I had managed to call my own soul back from her body when she had tried to kill Inuyasha. I looked towards Clara, concerned. If that was true, then…
"By Fate's decree, Midoriko has found the other half of her soul," Kasai went on. "She wishes to become whole once more, to finish what she started and atone for her sin."
"Sin?" Clara asked.
Kasai gestured to the Sacred Jewel in her hands. "The creation of the Sacred Jewel," he said. "Look at it closely, priestess—can you not sense Midoriko's sorrow within the jewel, the jewel that has killed thousands and condemned a thousand more to a miserable fate?"
"But…what about Clara?" I interjected. "If Midoriko wants her soul to be whole again, what will happen to her?"
"What do you think happens when a soul leaves the body?" Kasai asked gently.
Clara shook her head. I could tell that she was having trouble accepting all this. "But…I feel fine," she said.
"Tell me," Kasai continued. "Why do you think that darkness within the jewel grows? There are two evils within the jewel, where there had been only one, and you need the help of another to check the darkness within it. Why is that? Because your spiritual energy is waning."
"How could Midoriko do something this cruel?" I was aghast. It made no sense.
"Trust me, Midoriko does not want this any more than she does," Kasai said, glancing back towards Clara.
"What do we need to do?" Clara asked slowly. "I know you can't interfere too much, but please?"
Kasai considered her for a moment, then sighed. "Complete the jewel, and defeat the darkness within, before Midoriko can take your soul completely," he told her.
Her eyes widened in horror as the full impact of Kasai's words hit us, and it hit us hard…
To save herself, Clara would have to take Kohaku's shard.
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Clara
Everything was a blur.
I couldn't even remember the ride through the skies as we flew towards Kaede's village. All I could think about were Kasai's words.
Takeshi, and even Miroku, had told me that I had an incomplete soul. I hadn't minded at the time, because I didn't feel any different at all. But now that I thought about it closely, I had once been able to purify the jewel with my aura alone, but now, I couldn't even get rid of the darkness within the jewel completely…
Was it because my spiritual energy had weakened, like Kasai said? Was I really dying? But I didn't feel any different—physically, at least.
And then, there was the implication of Kasai's words…
If we were to complete the jewel, we would need Kohaku's shard.
I bit my lower lip. If we took Kohaku's shard, he would die.
With a horrible pang, I suddenly remembered the way he and Rin laughed loudly at Jaken's expense, the way he and Rin played with Hitori and Momitsumi, and the way he helped us fight the Demon Samurai. Worse still, was the way Kohaku and Sango had held each other, promising to go forward together, just as their father would have wanted…
I couldn't.
If I did…I wouldn't be able to live with myself, knowing that I was a monster.
I wouldn't.
. . .
It was afternoon by the time we had arrived at the outskirts of Kaede's village. Totosai immediately left, and Kagome and I thanked him for all his help. I tugged on Ah-Un's reigns as we headed towards the village. I stopped and turned towards Sesshoumaru, who hadn't made a move to follow.
"Aren't you coming?" I asked him. His eyes—I'd never seen them so cold before.
He stared at me for a moment, before he turned his head in the direction of Inuyasha's forest, and back to me. Oh.
"Go on," Kagome urged, taking Ah-Un's reigns from me. "Follow him."
Heart hammering, I reluctantly followed Sesshoumaru into Inuyasha's Forest. Birds sang in the trees, and the sunlight streaming through the leafy canopies felt so wrong, somehow. I kept my eyes fixed on Sesshoumaru's back as I followed him. There was something…off about him.
He kept walking, not stopping until we came across the Goshinboku. He looked up at its leafy canopy, still not saying anything.
"Sesshoumaru?" I asked carefully, after I couldn't take any more of the oppressive silence.
"What do you intend to do?" He kept his back to me, head raised to the tree's leaves.
"I take it, you mean regarding this," I said, taking out the jewel again. "I…I don't really know."
He turned to me, and I felt like shying away from his eyes—they were just so cold, but I could also make out something else beneath the ice, something I couldn't quite understand…
"You don't know?" he said severely.
I looked down at the ground. "You need to complete the jewel," he went on.
"I don't think I can," I said slowly, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Explain," he said, his tone clipped. Did he…was he…angry?
"Sesshoumaru, I…" I bit my lip. I felt so frustrated all of a sudden. "I don't want to take Kohaku's shard. I can't do it…I won't do it. I just…I couldn't!"
"You know what will happen otherwise," he warned, his eyes narrowing almost dangerously at me. Once upon a time, that look would have sent me running in the opposite direction, but not anymore.
"He's just a child," I said. "A child who's apparently been through hell and back. He's gone through a lot with his sister. I can't do that to him!"
"Even if it means your very life?" What was he saying? That I should…that I should take the shard, take Kohaku's life away from him?
"Even if means that!" I exclaimed. "Sesshoumaru…If I took his shard, do you think I could…do you think I could bear going through every single day knowing that I was alive only because I killed him? I couldn't! I'm not a monster!"
Sesshoumaru's look had gotten so cold, I was surprised that the ground he stood on hadn't frozen over yet. He was silent for a moment.
"Then," he said in a voice as cold as his eyes, "am I a monster for wanting to keep you safe?"
My eyes widened in shock as I stared at him. I couldn't even think of a coherent enough reply to that. What was he saying? That he would…take Kohaku's shard, kill the boy? I couldn't even…that just wasn't…I suddenly tasted blood. I'd bitten my lip too hard.
"Am I?" he repeated. There was nothing in his voice—no anger, no apathy, just…nothing.
I clenched my fists. "Taking his life…" I said slowly, not meeting his eyes. "That…that would be horrible."
It was so silent. The birds had stopped their twittering. It was as if the entire forest had sensed the tension in the air, and didn't dare make a sound.
He stared at me for a moment. I couldn't make out the look in his eyes, but it couldn't have boded well. I forced myself to meet his gaze. My heart was hammering so forcefully in my chest, it was painful. For a while, he was quiet, and I wondered what he was thinking…
He abruptly turned on his heel and, without sparing me another glance, vanished into the shadow of the trees. I suddenly felt so dizzy. Shakily, I made my way over to the Goshinboku, and sat on one of its gnarled roots.
I buried my face in my hands as I felt my eyes warming. I blinked rapidly. I wouldn't cry—I'd promised Sesshoumaru I wouldn't…
Oh…
He must be so mad.
I lowered my hands, and wrapped my arms around myself. I kept my eyes fixed on the ground. What do I do now?
I didn't know how long I stayed like that. A shadow suddenly fell over me, and I looked up, surprised to find Kagome standing in front of me.
"Hey," she said, sitting beside me on one of the roots. She dumped her yellow backpack beside her, as well as mine. She was quiet for a moment, and I continued to stare at the ground. "Clara…" she began hesitantly. "What happened? Where is Sesshoumaru?"
I bit my lower lip. "He left," I whispered. "I think he got angry, and left. I don't know where he went."
"Did you…did you guys fight?" she asked.
I nodded reluctantly. "Wow," she went on. "If you don't mind me saying, it's a miracle you're still alive." She gave me an awkward smile. "Sorry, probably not the best thing to say," she continued. She paused for a bit. "Why did you fight?"
Should I tell her? "He…" I shook my head. "Sorry, I can't."
She smiled knowingly. "It's fine," she said, placing a hand on my shoulder. She fell quiet again, and it was a while before she spoke. "You know what? Let's go back for a bit."
I nodded. "Inuyasha and the others are probably wondering where we are now," I said.
Kagome shook her head. "No, not to Kaede's village," she clarified. "I've talked with Inuyasha and the others, and they don't mind us going back to the modern era for a while."
I stared at her. "Go back?" I whispered. Truth be told, it felt like a lifetime since I had last been in the modern era. A part of me wanted to go back, but the other part wanted to find Sesshoumaru.
"You could use a break, Clara," Kagome pointed out. "It'll just be for several days, or so. A week at the most."
I hesitated. "What about Rin and Kohaku?" I asked. "And Jaken. How are they?"
"They're fine," she reassured. "Rin's become a sort of favorite with the village women. They adore her. Kohaku's helping the other men out at the fields. Jaken's grumbling, as always, and Miroku, Kaede and Sango are trying to find a way to take Kohaku's shard without endangering his life. We've told them about what Kasai said," she added, almost as an afterthought.
I raised an eyebrow. "And Inuyasha?" I asked.
"Uh…"
Hm…probably still stuck in a crater of sits. "But…" I said slowly. "Sesshoumaru…" Who was I kidding? Was I actually thinking that he would care if I went home, after the way I had talked to him earlier?
I shook my head. "Just for a while then," I said, sighing.
She smiled. "All right," she said, standing and offering me her hand. "Let's go."
I returned her smile as I took her hand. As we headed in the direction of the well, I couldn't help but glance around the trees one more time. Sighing, I shook my head and followed Kagome.
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Sesshoumaru
I crossed my arms as I kept myself hidden behind a tree. I frowned as I watched Kagome lead Clara by the hand out of the clearing and towards the direction of the well. As much as I preferred that she remain here, perhaps a respite would do her good.
I uncrossed my arms and walked away, into the forest.
There were more important matters that warranted my attention.
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A1969: the longest by far xD And it might just keep getting longer, and longer, because I love you guys to bits! So, help me reach five hundred reviews, yes?
Miroku: come now, people, show some love *gropes Sango's butt*
Sango: you pervert! *whack!*
Miroku: but…Sango! I was only showing love.
Inuyasha: laaaame!
A1969: anyway, before I forget…I have one question to ask...Am I the only one around here who thinks Jaken is cute?!
*crickets chirping*
Sesshoumaru: I do not even comprehend…
A1969: it's true! He's looks quite cuddly, doesn't he?
Kagome: anywaaay, don't forget to review! Let's reach five hundred, people!