Chapter Ten: A Different Kind of Trip
At the Bone Eater's Well, Kagome looked down to the dirt at the bottom and back to Sesshomaru. She was ready to go, but there was something off about him. She turned to face him; her hands wrapped around the straps of her backpack. When she turned to him, he raised his eyes just a tiny bit. She was right, he was deep in thought about something. It was interesting to finally notice things about this man.
"What's on your mind?" Kagome asked him.
"You jump into this filthy old well to travel to a different time?" Sesshomaru asked as he stepped up to the well and looked down to the bottom.
"Yes, that's it." Kagome confirmed, watching him closely. He stared down into the darkness, as if he were suspicious of the well itself. The cautious look in his eyes was mildly entertaining. "Are you coming or staying?"
"I'm coming." Sesshomaru said and watched her climb over the rim.
Kagome was about to just hop in and let him follow, but hesitated. She looked at him and pat the rim next to her. Sesshomaru's brow furrowed in confusion, but sat on the rim as well. Kagome scooted closer to him, causing him to withdraw, looking at her as if she had gone crazy.
"It's odd the first time. I figured going with me may be easier." Kagome smiled and held out a hand.
"She's doing this for my well-being?" Sesshomaru thought as he looked to the offered hand. It took him a while to make the decision, but as he went to take her hand, he pulled back. "Just go."
"Okay." Kagome said with a short giggle.
As Kagome went into the well, Sesshomaru watched for a few seconds before he hopped in too. He felt the air shift around him as it darkened further and lights surrounded him. It looked like he was surrounded by the night sky and saw a bright light he was falling to. The old world faded and a new one appeared. He landed quietly and looked up, seeing a roof over the well and Kagome climbing up an unstable rope ladder. As she struggled up it and her foot slipped off one of the rope steps, he reached up out and grabbed her ankle to prevent her from falling. However, she reacted poorly.
"AH!" Kagome squeaked as her ankle was grabbed and she lost all sense of balance. Kagome fell back and Sesshomaru let go of her ankle to hold his arms out and catch her. She tensed, looked up to him, blinked a couple times and then squirmed until he placed her on her feet.
"It worked?" Kagome asked in disbelief, "You actually made it through?"
"I told you I would." Sesshomaru told her.
"I know, but… I just… I didn't think that…" Kagome groaned and took a deep breath to calm down.
"Is my presence that bothersome?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.
"No, no. Nothing like that." Kagome disputed that accusation quickly, "It was just unexpected."
Kagome turned and went to climb up the ladder again, but Sesshomaru coiled an arm around her waist and hopped up and over the rim, landing between the well and the small set of wooden stairs. Kagome gave her thanks and was going to lead Sesshomaru out of the building, but he wasn't following her. She looked back just in time to see him jump back in the well. Kagome stood in silence and extreme confusion. A moment later, he returned and hopped back up to where she was standing. Kagome blinked as she watched this.
"What… are you doing?" Kagome asked.
"I wanted to experience it again. There is a strange magical shift in that well when you're coming through." Sesshomaru explained.
"Yeah, that is probably a shift in time." Kagome said.
"Fair, but the feeling was odd." Sesshomaru explained further.
Kagome couldn't say anything. She just nodded, trying not to giggle at that adorable display of curiosity, and turned to the door. As they stepped out of what was a mostly familiar structure, Sesshomaru was stunned by the world he saw around them. The stoic demon's composure was broken and his eyes widened, jaw dropped just a bit. The buildings were so tall, close, and there was barely any green. Without a word, he began walking toward the Sacred Tree, recognizing the one familiar sight here.
Kagome was about to talk to him, but when she noticed he walked off, she followed him to the tree. Once he seemed to be satisfied with looking at it, he began wandering around. He examined Kagome's house, a shed, the flooring, the walls around the property. He saw strange posts that the modern citizens would call a street light and he came to a large stone staircase that led down to a black road.
"Your world smells of soot and decayed flesh." Sesshomaru spoke his first words in this new time, and of course, it was an insult, "Your buildings are impressive and your roads sturdier than our stone."
"It's called asphalt." Kagome said and Sesshomaru's expression dulled enough to make her laugh.
"Who named it so idiotically?" Sesshomaru asked and Kagome shrugged as she tried to stop laughing, "Foolish."
"A few interesting facts…" Kagome stepped up by his side, "We're five hundred years in the future and mankind has done so many interesting things that the people of your time would never dream of."
"Like what?" Sesshomaru asked, his interest noticeable and sincere.
"Well, we've traveled to the moon." Kagome said and watched him closely. That was one of the first facts about the future that she told Inuyasha, but he didn't really care about that. Inuyasha just refused to believe it and ate his ramen.
"How?" Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed suspiciously, wanting the facts. Kagome blinked, pleasantly surprised by this and then smiled at him. The next thirty minutes of their lives consisted of Kagome explaining different things to him, which led to more questions and more answers. They talked about modern day medicine, television, rockets, cars, gas, electricity, lights, computers, and the internet. The fact that interested him the most above everything else was the idea of over seven billion people living on the planet.
"There's a lot more than this land, isn't there?" Sesshomaru asked, staring out over the hundreds of roofs that he could see from the top of that stone staircase. It was as if that had been a thought he never could confirm since the ocean cut his world off from everywhere else.
"Yeah, there's a lot." Kagome nodded. She couldn't help but stare. He was so deep in thought about everything she told him. Watching him only brought more questions to her mind. What did Sesshomaru think about the world at large? What were his goals in life? She only knew him to travel around and hunt Naraku separately from them. What was his purpose before that?
Sesshomaru realized the silence was longer than he expected and looked to the woman at his side. She was staring at him again, a strange look in her eyes. What was she thinking? That soft gaze was not something he was used to and that smile only made him apprehensive of what action she may take next. He did not like being confused by someone, especially not by someone like her.
"Kagome?" a kind feminine voice called out from a few feet away.
"Mom!" Kagome smiled and ran into her Mother's arms, "I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you too, dear." Her mother returned the hug and looked to Sesshomaru, "Who's this?"
"This is Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's older brother." Kagome introduced him with a smile.
"The frightening one that you've spoken of before?" Her mother asked and glared at Sesshomaru, not trusting the demon who said nothing and stood expressionless as the two talked.
"Uh, yeah…" Kagome chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head, "He's with us now."
"I'm with you, not them." Sesshomaru corrected her and stepped up to Kagome's mother, "I am Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands of my time. We are here to pick up supplies and continue our journey quickly. I do apologize for any inconvenience this trip here will have."
"You're a lot more polite than your brother." Kagome's mother said.
"A compliment, thank you." Sesshomaru nodded.
"You're very welcome. Just stop trying to kill my daughter and her friends, okay?" Kagome's mother said kindly, but there was a menacing aura that surrounded her: the protective instincts of a mother.
"At this time, you have no worries. I no longer have intentions to harm your daughter." Sesshomaru said, working his words around a lie. "And if we're being honest, I never did. I only attacked Inuyasha, Kagome had a habit of defending him." Sesshomaru would have killed Kagome if he could, but the mark that bonded them was powerful. This was also only a thought after their incident. Before that, Kagome was only in danger around Sesshomaru when she got in his way and wouldn't mind her business. And now, if she were in danger, he'd come.
"I see…" Kagome's mother said and then turned to Kagome. "Let's get those supplies of yours gathered, okay?"
The three made their way to the house and went inside. Sesshomaru was asked to wait patiently in the living room while they worked. Kagome's Grandfather came in a few minutes later and kept Kagome's guest some company. Unfortunately, Grandpa recognized Sesshomaru's name and only wanted to exorcize the him. Kagome demanded that Grandpa leave Sesshomaru alone and he did.
There wasn't much talking between anyone. There was only Grandpa and Sesshomaru sitting across from each other, keeping direct eye contact. Kagome and her mother often came in and out of the room, talking and gathering things up, but neither of the men dared move or they'd lose this unspoken challenge. The staring contest went on so long that Sesshomaru did not notice the cat in his lap.
Buyo tried getting Sesshomaru's attention, but the demon was like a statue. He was determined to defeat this old man in eye-combat if it was the last thing he did. Buyo meowed at Sesshomaru, but still received no response. Buyo even crawled up his chest and pawed at Sesshomaru's long ears. Still, Sesshomaru did not move a muscle or blink. This old fool should have never challenged him.
Unfortunately for Sesshomaru, Grandpa had a few tricks up his sleeve. Suddenly, Grandpa yelled, "BE GONE DEMON!" and pulled out a bag of purification salt, throwing a fist full at Sesshomaru and Buyo, sending the cat into turmoil. Sesshomaru felt the cats claw scratch his face and jumped to his feet, shouting angrily as he reached for the bag of salt. He snatched the bag from Grandpa and dug his hands into it, pulling out a fist full of salt and throwing it at Grandpa, showing no mercy.
"DIE HUMAN." He demanded of the old man, who used a magazine to block the incoming salt.
"What is going on in here?" Kagome ran into the room, her heart racing after hearing Sesshomaru yell those words. When she saw Sesshomaru throwing salt at her Grandfather, she slouched and her left eye twitched.
"Your grandfather used this to command the cat to attack me." Sesshomaru held the bag out and pointed to his cheek, three long cat scratches already healing up, "I thought it would work for me as well, but it did not. The cat fled. I demand something be done about this insolence."
"Let's just go. We got everything ready." Kagome sighed in relief and annoyance.
"Good." Sesshomaru nodded.
"Leaving so soon, Kagome?" Grandpa asked, not wanting her to go.
"Yeah, I've got to. I'll be back another time though, okay?" Kagome gave her Grandpa a hug, "Give Sota a hug for me too."
"I will. You be safe." Grandpa said.
Kagome gave her Mother a hug too and motioned for Sesshomaru to follow. He did, but not without shooting a glare back toward Grandpa, who smirked as if he had won this battle.
"Not the war, old man." Sesshomaru thought. Kagome's grandfather was tolerable.
Before they walked out of the house, Sesshomaru was handed a large bag of supplies, while Kagome carried her normal yellow bag. Night had fallen and the two came to the Bone Eater's Well. Sesshomaru walked in first and Kagome closed the door behind them. She was going to just jump on in, but like before, something stopped her. She stared down into the darkness, not able to see the bottom. She was lost in thought and tightened her hands around her backpack straps. Sesshomaru noticed.
"Is something wrong?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I'm scared." Kagome admitted without reservation.
"Of what?"
"If we can't find a way to remove the mark, you're going to kill me, aren't you?" she asked, trembling.
"No. I can't. I have no ability to kill you or let you be killed." Sesshomaru said bluntly, wanting to clear that assumption up, "That mark protects you from any physical harm I may do. It doesn't seem to control my thoughts, but it does push me to act when needed. Is this really that hard to understand?"
"It's not." Kagome shook her head, "I'm trying my best to be calm, to not go crazy, but it's hard. It doesn't matter what the mark does. It doesn't matter that you say you can't hurt me."
Kagome's entire body shook. Sesshomaru saw tears fall to the rim of the well. She was crying again. Why did she cry so much? He'd understand if he was hostile, but he wasn't. In fact, Sesshomaru had been trying to keep everything as civil as possible in order to prevent conflict between them.
"You terrify me." Kagome whispered.
Sesshomaru's keen senses allowed him to pick up the words anyway and Kagome knew that. If Inuyasha could hear her mumble like that, Sesshomaru could probably hear her damn thoughts.
"I terrify her, yet she did not stop me from coming here with her?" Sesshomaru thought.
He did not move and just watched her cry, her hand clenching the rim of the well. It was as if the well was the only thing keeping her grounded. She couldn't let it go, and it oddly bothered him.
"I know." Sesshomaru let out an exasperated sigh, "You'd be unwise to not be frightened of me. I've tried to kill Inuyasha for years… I am not aware of what happened to you that night, Kagome. I know what occurred, but I have no memory of my own actions. I don't remember what I did and that maddens me. The stories I have heard of when women are violated are sickening and I could have behaved like any of them. I admit that I worry I went further than I would ever think myself capable. I don't want the answers, but questions on how violent and cruel I was often cross my mind. Did I strike you? Did I strangle or throw you around? How often were you pinned? How many times did you scream, beg or cry? How hard did you fight back?"
"S-Stop." Kagome fell to her knees, resting her forehead on the rim of the well, her hand still gripping it for dear life as tears fell to the dirt, "P-Please no more. J-Just s-stop."
"I ask myself these questions because I know that I may have to keep near you for many years to come and I need to make up for it somehow." Sesshomaru explained.
Kagome's crying slowed and she looked up to him completely bewildered by that desire he claimed to have. She stared at him, eyes wide and her grip on the well weakening somewhat.
"If I do not know what I did, I can't make up for it." He continued, looking her in the eyes, "Today, I've traveled with you for the first time. Even if it was a short trip, I was able to see your part of your world, meet your family, and explore some of your home. I realize where you get your spunk and kind heart. I only regret not being able to meet your younger brother since I'm sure he'd enlighten me to more about you and how you view life." Sesshomaru stepped over and kneeled next to her, "If you and I are to never be separated, I will act as an honorable mate. You will be taken care of and protected."
"You really mean that, don't you?" Kagome asked and he nodded once.
Kagome calmed down some and stood up, adjusting her backpack. The two watched each other for a moment and Kagome perked up, forcing on a bigger smile than she meant to.
"I know this is hard for you too. I'll do my best, okay?" Kagome said.
Kagome couldn't come up with anything else to say. Sesshomaru was very different now, or trying to be. They both went through a trauma that will possibly impact them for life. However, each of them stood on opposite sides of that event. Sesshomaru remembered nothing and only knows he is guilty of the act. Kagome remembered everything and understands Sesshomaru would have never normally done such a thing. It was a difficult situation for both and they only had one thing they could do now: move forward. Kagome took a deep breath and reached out, grabbing Sesshomaru's hand. He tensed at the contact, but fought the urge to pull his hand away. He could still feel her shaking and it would take time for that fear to settle, so this may have been the first step to allowing her fear of him to lessen.
Sesshomaru watched Kagome as she hopped over well's rim and sat on it. He followed suit and the two jumped through the well's portal hand-in-hand. Soon, they found themselves on the other side and familiar, more pleasurable scents caused Sesshomaru a great deal of relief.
"Your world smells horrid." Sesshomaru wiped his nose as if wiping away the old stench.
"See, Kagome, it wasn't just me. Your world smells like smoke and death. Maybe now that Sesshomaru has said it, you'll listen." Inuyasha's voice caught their attention. The two looked up to see him standing over the well, his chin resting in his hand as he stared down at the two. "Well, aren't you chummy."
The two mutually released each other's hand and Inuyasha shrugged, a gesture that caused Sesshomaru and Kagome to look to each other, a little puzzled by his reaction. Inuyasha reached down and offered Kagome a hand, who kindly took it and was lifted out of the well. Sesshomaru stood patiently and watched when Inuyasha looked down and offered his brother a hand too, presumably mocking him.
Sesshomaru took it. Like lightning, Sesshomaru grabbed Inuyasha's hand, causing the half-demon to shriek in fear and pull away. In doing so, Inuyasha did hoist his brother up from the bottom of the well, yelling in terror the entire time, waiting for the acid claws to burn him. Instead, Sesshomaru made it to the top without any incident and release his brother suddenly, causing the momentum to send Inuyasha stumbling backwards and falling onto his backside next to the other onlookers.
"What the hell?" Inuyasha shouted, astonished by Sesshomaru's actions.
The group behind the two dog demon brothers began laughing hysterically. Shippo was holding his stomach because he was laughing so hard. Sango and Miroku wiped tears of joy from their eyes.
"You bastards!" Inuyasha yelled at them.
"I can't believe it worked." Miroku said, still laughing.
"We dared him to offer a hand to Sesshomaru too." Sango added, also still laughing.
"Yeah! We didn't think he'd have the guts to do it, but he had to prove us wrong." Shippo added, barely able to breathe, "Who knew Sesshomaru would make it even funnier?"
"Kagome, he grabbed my hand." Inuyasha stepped up to Kagome, pointing angrily at his own hand and then pointing back at Sesshomaru, "Kick his ass!"
"What, me?" Kagome replied, perplexed at the notion.
"Yes, you're the only one who ca-…" Inuyasha stopped mid-sentence and looked to his brother, "You can't hurt me, can you? The mark won't let you. I could finally kill you and Kagome'd be free."
The lively atmosphere of the group faded as quickly as lightning struck. Miroku and Sango looked to each other, both torn on what to do if Inuyasha did decide that was the way to go. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, the intent and confidence to kill Sesshomaru showing abundantly on his face. There was nothing the dog demon could do if Inuyasha attacked him. While Sesshomaru did not waver, as if he expected this to come up sooner or later, he was not entirely sure that he'd survive a battle with Inuyasha if he was unable to defend himself against his brother's attacks. He could avoid him for hours, but as they both wore themselves down, Inuyasha's will to kill him just might outlast him.
"Alright, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha grabbed Tetsusaiga and unsheathed it, "You ready to die?"
Kagome's mind was in turmoil watching this unfold. Sesshomaru had violated her and at the same time destroyed his honor and defiled himself. He was wrestling with a traumatic problem just like Kagome was, so was it right to take advantage of his state and kill him now? Inuyasha thought so, of course, but it wasn't a decision Kagome could take lightly. If this was to happen, they could do it down the line after figuring out and eliminating other options. Killing him while he was defenseless was wrong. The promise Sesshomaru made in her time helped her see him in a better light. This couldn't happen.
"I will not go easily, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru warned.
"Doesn't matter. Easy or hard, it's your choice." Inuyasha pointed his large demon blade at him, "If you decide to fight, then that's on you. Otherwise, sit back and let it happen. Either way is fine with me."
Inuyasha brought both hands to Tetsusaiga's hilt, grasping the sword tightly in his hands. This was it. He was finally going to be able to rid himself of his older brother and also free Kagome. With a cocky smile, Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga over his head and charged Sesshomaru with the serious desire to kill him. The full-demon glared back at his half-brother, bracing himself for the upcoming fight.
"S-Sit." Kagome said the command with an amount of guilt and reservation that shook her.
Inuyasha's body was forced to the ground by the spiritual beads around his neck. Tetsusaiga reverted to its smaller form and the group looked over to Kagome, who was staring at the grass at her feet with her fist clenched so tightly they were shaking. Inuyasha brought his head up to yell at Kagome, but couldn't find the courage to once he saw the gloom in her eyes and the conflict she was wrestling with.
"Kagome, it'd free you from him." Inuyasha brought himself to one knee, using the Tetsusaiga as a brace to hold himself up, "He's tried to kill us so many times, so why won't you let me?"
"Inuyasha, I can't…" Kagome looked desperately into his eyes, slowly shaking her head, "I just can't."
"But Kagome…" Inuyasha question her, confused and saddened. What did this mean?
"It's not right." Kagome said and then stomped her foot, raising her voice out of frustration, "And you know it! The Inuyasha I know would never want to kill someone knowing they couldn't fight back. Even with all of what you've gone through, everything you've dealt with in your life, killing Sesshomaru in this way would ruin you. You'd never be able to live with yourself if you did it. And I would never be able to live with myself if I stood by and watched as you did it." Kagome groaned loudly, almost a scream, and grabbed the hair at her scalp, "I am sorry that this happened. I'm sorry that I didn't just tell everyone. I'm sorry that I can't defend myself anymore. I am sorry that this is dragging all of us, including you Sesshomaru, down. No matter how low we get, I will not allow us to lose ourselves. None of you allowed me to fall into that darkness when it first happened, so you won't be doing it now. GOT IT!? Inuyasha, you will not try to kill you brother with the idea that it's easy because he's defenseless. Sesshomaru, I will try my hardest to not take advantage of this connection that, obviously, neither of us want. I am going to get my powers back and we're going to find a way to remove it, kill Naraku, complete the jewel, and then try to go back to a simpler life where we can have some semblance of peace."
Kagome stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and sighed in out. She had become a little irate when venting through this aggressive speech. She cleared her throat and looked around at everyone.
"Now, we're starting tomorrow." Kagome stood without an ounce of fragility, "So, get some rest."
As if they were given some needed advice from a respected leader, the group all nodded. Sango and Miroku smiled to each other and picked Shippo up, leaving with Kilala walking by their side. Even Inuyasha felt refreshed from the last days events when hearing Kagome talk like that. He stood up and sheathed Tetsusaiga. He looked at his brother and gave a composed nod. Sesshomaru hesitated, but returned the nod in kind. Inuyasha looked to Kagome and walked up to her, showing a soft smile.
"Thank you, Kagome." Inuyasha nodded, "You're right. If I had… Well, you know. It'd be bad."
Kagome's tears welled up again as she nodded, and threw her arms around Inuyasha, laying her head on his chest. Inuyasha put his arms around her for the first time since everything happened. Feeling that warmth comforted Kagome immensely and Inuyasha could feel her practically collapse into him, as if her strength had been sucked away. He tightened the embrace as he heard her whimper. A few moments later, Kagome's breathing evened out to a calm rhythm and he knew she had fallen asleep.
"Silly girl." He whispered.
He brushed her hair from her face before gently swooping her into his arms. He turned to head back to the village when he saw Sesshomaru just standing there watching them.
"Awkward." Inuyasha said quietly, a little disturbed by the thought.
When Sesshomaru didn't reply, Inuyasha chose to ignore him and walk back to the village. He walked past his brother, doing his best not to make eye contact because Sesshomaru refused to break it. Sesshomaru did not enjoy witnessing that moment between those two. He knew the influence of the mark was powerful and that is where these odd feelings arose from, but to not only be protective of her, but possessive? He stood quietly, fighting the urges to keep what was his. He kept having to remind himself about what all of this really was. He did not choose Kagome. She was not his. He did not even want her. The mark. It was all the mark and that damned thing needed to go.
