A submission for the October monthly prompt by the SessKag Blog. This month's prompt is Fear. This is mostly canon compliant.
.:o0o:.
Fear was not an emotion Lord Sesshoumaru felt often and it was an emotion he was even less likely to admit to ever feeling. But as he stood on a cliffside gazing at the ruins of Mount Hakurei, he felt true fear lance through him.
It wasn't because the powerful pure barrier that once protected the entire area had been broken. It wasn't because of all the demons pouring from every crevasse of the catacombs of the once holy place.
It wasn't even because he could feel Naraku's power once more and it felt stronger and more malicious than ever before.
He clenched his fist at his side as Rin and Jakken marveled in awed fear at what they were all seeing, both of their scents going bitter with the emotion. He was sure his own great scent tinged with such foul bitterness to a degree that another strong youkai could detect it.
He knew his eyes were tinted pink, the ongoing mental fight with his bestial half keeping him rooted where he stood. He wanted to seek out the disgusting half demon, but he needed a plan. His beast just wanted blood, and he completely agreed.
"Rin." He intoned, his monotone not betraying the battle raging within him.
"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?" His ward called out.
"Take Ah-Un and leave this place." He commanded.
"Where will you go?" She asked worriedly. He didn't respond as he felt it obvious, he heard Jakken whimper behind him, no doubt worried as he was not also commanded to leave.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Jakken cried, his fear palpable.
"Jakken. Come." He spoke again before leaping from the cliff face, leaving Ah-Uh to do as commanded and take Rin to safety. He ignored Jakken's cries as the imp clung to mokomoko-sama.
"Thank you for saving me from Mukotsu." She whispered. She didn't turn to greet him and continued to stare into the mirrored calm of the lake before her. The full moon illuminated the area and he watched her calmly, he didn't reply knowing she had more to say.
"I was so scared. I knew InuYasha wouldn't come in time and if you hadn't I-" She turned to look at him then, blue eyes glowing as tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked.
He sat on the bank beside her, her tears made him uncomfortable and her thanks was unneeded. He raised his clawed hand and rested it upon her back, completely unsure what to do to cease her crying. It seemed that was all she needed because in the next moment, she flung herself into his chest, neatly avoiding the spikes of his armour. Her face pressed itself intimately into his neck and he felt her tears keenly on the collar of his kimono.
She clung to him and he let her.
She cried for some time and he held her shaking frame, allowing her the cathartic moments she needed. He absently stroked her hair, watching as his pale fingers combed through the silky raven strands. It seemed to help her as much as it was helping him.
"I'm sorry, I'm crying all over you." She sobbed, easing back to look at him. Her eyes were red and he could see the slight swelling, but he focused on the relief and calm in her cerulean gaze.
"It is of little consequence." He spoke for the first time that night.
"How did you know I was here?" She asked, fingering the damp collar of his kimono, unaware that her light touches were scattering the thoughts of the male she rested on.
"I stayed close to your group. I wanted." He paused, "I needed to know you were ok." He spoke quietly, golden eyes watching as her eyes snapped to his with a gasp.
"Sess-" She started.
"I made a vow to protect you, I do not like to fail." He spoke again, looking away from her keen gaze.
"Is that the only reason?" She whispered, resting a palm on his cheek. He glanced at her and swallowed; she could feel the movement in his clenched jaw.
"The halfbreed doesn't protect you as he should, that you insist on following him is folly and my beast hates that you aren't near." He ground out, feeling laid bare.
"I'm not going to leave my friends and quest because we are dating." She murmured with a hug, knowing he didn't understand the futuristic term but unable to find one that covered what they were. They weren't courting, because he hadn't asked. In the future, they would be casually or maybe closer to exclusively, dating.
"I know you've never asked me to renege on my duty. That's not what I mean. I know you want to protect me, but you can't be there all the time."
"I would, if you would let me."
And she knew it was true. But she didn't want to cause a rift with InuYasha. He was already on edge because somehow Kikyo had been tied up with this whole Band of Seven, she didn't want to throw her new relationship with Sesshoumaru on top of it.
"I don't want to fight." She said with a sigh, still clinging to him tightly. He nuzzled her neck in response.
"Where will you go tomorrow?" He asked finally.
"We're heading back to Mount Hakurei. Miroku thinks he can find the source of the barrier. We think Naraku might be near, maybe even using the barrier to hide himself. His last puppet smelled like the flowers and the streams that run through the barrier." She replied, her breath tickling his neck. His arm tightened around her like a steel band.
"You will be careful." He commanded, his jaw tense. She nodded against him before easing back and looking him in the eyes. Her palms cupped his cheeks and her red rimmed gaze, open.
"I promise." She kissed him then to seal her vow.
The closer he went to the mountain, the denser the demon surge became. He slashed and whipped hundreds of lower level demon vermin into ribbons and gore, more and more collecting their death from his claws. His narrowed eyes betrayed his fierce intent.
His chest clenched tightly, knowing that somewhere in all this chaos and evil, was Kagome.
'Remember your promise, Kagome.' He all but roared in his head.
.:o0o:.
Well this took absolutely too long to write. I had so many places I wanted to go with this before deciding that the easiest path could also be the simplest. Sometimes it's best to edit yourself, you don't need to add everything.
Besides I can use those other plot points for other prompts lol
Did you like it?
Much love!
-sora