SESSHOMARU BOUND
By Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Author's Notes: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I just redid this chapter. I didn't have time to edit before and found some errors I wanted to correct.
CHAPTER SIX
Sesshomaru's Decision
Kagome waited the air so thick with silence she could cut it with a knife. As if the embarrassing incident with the three demons was not enough, now she had to endure the constant staring and critical eye of the demon standing in front of her now.
Totosai inspected Kagome's neck closely, using the Shikon Jewel half Kagome had with her to inspect the craftsmanship of the Bounder line. Her chin lifted high, her eyes followed the old demon as he glanced around and down at the line shimmering in the Shikon Jewel's light.
"Not one of mine." Declared the old demon sword-smith finally then continued on as if thinking out loud. "The handy-work was done way too fast. Hymm, wasn't enough time to cool between spells. It won't be as strong as some of the others I've seen."
Totosai handed Kagome back the Shikon Jewel. He had no need for it. Besides, the girl looked a little worse for wear, more so now than when she traveled with Inuyasha. He heard the stories of Naraku's spell over the younger Halfling.
"You make them?!" Kagome's mouth dropped. "As if they're jewelry?"
"They're rather easy to make, Kagome." Totosai smiled then lost it at Kagome's angry face. "A basic skill all any Swordmaker learns before forming any sword, a way to hone one's skill. As I remember it some use bounders to keep pets close to home. Most of the requests come from female demons looking to capture a mate."
"I'm NOT a pet!" Kagome took a deep breath knowing her desire to go home was at an all time high. "So, why am I bound to him?"
It felt so strange being left to her own devices in this place with no way home. In less than two months, all she knew of the Feudal era was turned upside down. She lost her travel companions to serious possible critical injuries and needed to recover. Inuyasha no longer remembered her, choosing to return to his forest. And now she was stuck to his older brother who despised all humans. What next?
"Ha! You are not Bound to him." Totosai snorted and pointed a bony finger at Kagome. "Sesshomaru is bound to you."
"What?" Kagome frowned confused. "I don't understand."
She noticed that Sesshomaru kept silent the entire time choosing to keep his eyes on the floor not to mention keep out of Totosai's way. So, he knew this already. 'Jerk!' He did not even consider it necessary to inform her of everything since she was just a mere human. There was no time for this!
"Few minds can understand the…" Sesshomaru was cut off.
"Surely, you've been able to knock him off his feet a few times?" Totosai saw Kagome's blush and smiled without thought to what the dog demon might do to him. "That's what I thought. That demon witch wanted Sesshomaru to suffer something. Not sure what exactly. I'll get down to it after lunch."
Totosai turned his back on Kagome and went over to her backpack. She usually carried something tasty to eat and now was his chance to relish in flavor. Kagome only stared at the Swordmaker in awe and frowned, letting her thoughts take over.
"Can we break the Bounder with the piece of the Shikon Jewel I have now?" Kagome asked hopefully.
'It was good for a whole bunch of other stuff', she thought inwardly. Why not this Bounder thing too? Surely there was some kind of spell that could wisk this Bounder off in no time! If the Shikon Jewel could not do it, what would?
"Possibly." Totosai looked to Sesshomaru then back at Kagome. "Where's the Demon Witch who did this?"
"He killed her." Kagome pointed at Sesshomaru with her thumb and shook her head. "He has no people skills."
"A good thing, she would never have removed it anyway." Totosai replied evenly disappointed that her pack was void of tasty food. "Her being alive would've allowed her to strengthen it even at a distance. From what I gather, she didn't like the Dog General. I doubt she had a place in her heart for either of his sons."
"What aren't you telling me?" Kagome wanted answers.
'Don't panic, don't panic. It's just a temporary set back. Another few days and this will all go away. There is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, after all!' But there was no denying that all she really wanted was just to go home and forget this place.
"Bounders are difficult to remove." Totosai rubbed his chin. "Not sure if the Shikon Jewel will be powerful enough. Bounders are a different kind of spell. Unless you have the whole Shikon Jewel, there's no point in trying."
"Naraku made sure he got part of it." Kagome informed Totosai. "I swear he knew something was up and made off with it while I wasn't paying attention. Jerk."
She folded her arms feeling a failure. Naraku was a never-ending pain in her ass. He broke up her group and nearly destroyed Inuyasha. Miroku and Sango barely made it out alive. Thanks to KiRaRa, she would not be here today. She would make him pay somehow.
"He does seem to do that." Totosai could tell Kagome was down about the whole ordeal. "Odd, did the witch say anything before she put this on?"
"Not that I recall." Kagome shrugged. "I was mostly unconscious when it happened. Why?"
"Witches like to force people to do things that benefit them somehow." Totosai grimaced. "Back four thousand years ago, they used to play games with them, forcing the victim to do something against their beliefs to remove it. Lots of half-breeds were born that way."
"EW!" Kagome did not know how else to react. "Can we change the subject?! That's really wrong on so many levels. You're kidding right?"
So Sesshomaru's situation was not new. In fact, his was quite well known amongst the historians it seemed. It was also well known that he detested Humans. And if this Demon Witch hated his clan enough, she would want some form of revenge. Revenge for what exactly?
"I really wish I were, Kagome." Totosai giggled. "But that was four-thousand years ago."
"The witch's purpose was clear." Sesshomaru spoke for the first time, flexing his new arm and fisting his hand. "She lured this Sesshomaru with the offer of a new arm."
"Really now." Totosai cautiously looked at the arm from a distance. "That does change things a bit."
Kagome fumed at having been forgotten as the old demon went to Sesshomaru and sat himself on a stool in front of the dog demon. Her eye narrowed when he took a long look at the arm offered by Inuyasha's older brother. They began a quiet conversation, more like Totosai doing all the talking, but seemingly in words she did not understand.
Kagome felt a pang of guilt. She still remembered the time Sesshomaru lost his arm in battle against Inuyasha shortly after her initial arrival. They had just met only a short time before and Inuyasha had to dodge being killed by his brother. She pulled Tetsusaiga out of its place that allowed Inuyasha to wield Tetsusaiga left to him by his father.
Now she was stuck with Sesshomaru all because some Demon Witch wanted some kind of revenge on their clan. Revenge for something Sesshomaru's father had done. Why could she not just have avoided this whole mess and gone home forever?
Anyway, it was best to leave the two demons to themselves. They did not seem to care that she was here. Besides, she had some thinking she needed to do. Kagome lowered her head, folded her arms and left the cave.
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Kagome finally escaped the confines of the cave that felt far too claustrophobic. She had not noticed he received a new arm until he spoke of it, oblivious to his situation since she was so consumed with her own. The demon witch gave it to him as some kind of offer. She doubted it out of friendship. No, the demon witch wanted a way to get close to Sesshomaru.
Sitting on the ledge thirty meters from the cave entrance, Kagome took a deep breath and dropped her shoulders. She lifted her eyes to the horizon.
Where would they go from here? What path would they take to find a way to take this Bounder off? Would the Shikon Jewel as a whole offer up a solution? She had no answers. Most of the time the questions she needed to ask, she did not know how or what questions to ask.
Not that she would get many answers. Sesshomaru did not seem the talkative type nor did he like to share knowledge. He responded in a limited manner on the rare occasion. Suddenly, she realized how alone she felt. Sango and Miroku were always good to have around. She missed Shippo and KiRaRa. Even Inuyasha.
Inuyasha.
The half-demon she tried to forget. Naraku made him forget her and want nothing to do with her or the others. That hurt deep. But, she also knew that it was time to put an end to the trips through the well.
It was time to make the Shikon Jewel whole and return to her time where she could permanently seal the Bone Eaters Well. She knew approximately where the Shikon Jewel half might be. She could feel it from a distance. But right now, all she felt was a bit confused.
Totosai was supposed to help them. But he offered little new information, unless Sesshomaru was more forthcoming with the old demon. She doubted that. The dog demon showed little interest in conversation.
She yawned then realizing how tired she was. Noting her backpack was close by she would take a quick nap. 'Nothing wrong with getting a little sleep, rite?' Humans were not like Demons in that regard. Demons needed little sleep as far as she could tell.
And Sesshomaru did not seem to care if she got tired. Well now that she was in control with the Bounder thing, she would make sure to stop when she was tired. And there was nothing he could do about it!
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Totosai sighed when Kagome left the cave. He lowered his head a bit then put down his staff. Sesshomaru would not be as understanding as Inuyasha. But, since the Bounder was on the elder brother, Sesshomaru and not Inuyasha, there was much to discuss before they left on the journey to find the Shikon Jewel. It would be needed to weaken the Bounder at least.
"You know what you must do." Totosai began suddenly serious.
Sesshomaru remained silent.
"If you do not, you forfeit the extended time." Totosai scratched his chin. "The Demon Witch suspected you would rather die than do this. If I was to guess she might have gone after Inuyasha. But since he was made to forget the last fifty some years by Naraku, the Demon Witch focused on you instead."
Sesshomaru said nothing, remaining eerily still.
"Unless you did something to her."
"This Sesshomaru has never met her before." He finally spoke up, his own thoughts convoluted.
"Did she indicate wanting Tenseiga?" Totosai got no response. "Perhaps she wanted you after all. Why deal with a half-breed when a full demon is more potent?"
Sesshomaru lifted his amber eyes to Totosai.
"But then, you are a smart demon due to your breeding." Totosai picked up his staff again. "You probably figured this out already why she wanted to lure you into her trap. Too strong for her so she came up with the Bounder at the last moment. She knew you wouldn't let her live to explain why."
Totosai paused, Sesshomaru kept quiet listening.
"Your father would not have wanted you to suffer like this." The old demon shook his head. "No, not like this."
"The Demon Witch suspects correctly but she underestimated this Sesshomaru's powers." Sesshomaru replied quietly. "Father left a way to escape?"
"I'm afraid not at this juncture." Totosai sighed and began pacing back and forth. "Since you cannot wield Tetsusaiga and the purified, whole Shikon Jewel at the same time, you will not gain freedom. Fex knew this about your father's legacy. Many demons know."
Sesshomaru only stared at the demon, silent for the moment.
"She intends to kill you, Sesshomaru." Totosai remained solemn as he continued. "That is why she needed the Shikon Jewel to seal the Bounder. Kagome was nothing more than a happenstance since she carried part of the Shikon Jewel with her. Fex must've seen this as her lucky day and lured the miko her way. It's good Kagome only possessed a portion of the jewel and not the whole thing. But that doesn't mean your journey will be any easier. There'll be no spell that can break the Bounder efficiently. However, Fex did not anticipate to whom you are Bounded."
Sesshomaru turned his head to the Swordmaker.
"She gave you a way out." Totosai nodded. "Unknowingly is obvious. The Human you're bounded to is a very powerful Miko despite her Human qualities. She can wield both Tetsusaiga and the Shikon Jewel. She can free you both."
Sesshomaru suddenly got to his feet and turned his back, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"There is no possible way to use the Shikon Jewel with the miko's help, Totosai."
"You forget Tenseiga." Totosai smiled slightly. "The swords ability to save lives in connection with the Jewel may be enough to cut the tie that binds you after slicing the line with Tetsusaiga. You must be precise with both Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga. You just need to find Inuyasha to get Tetsusaiga."
The Dog Demon remained silent.
"Don't be a fool, Sesshomaru." He sighed. "Do what must be done. Your Father knew Fex might go after one or both of you. Since Inuyasha has lost his memories thanks to Naraku, that left only you to try getting her revenge. Combine the power of the purified Jewel, Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga."
Totosai paused. "Has the awakening occurred yet?"
"Last night." Sesshomaru spoke softly. "The lure of the Bounder proved difficult to ignore."
"You held off long enough. That's pretty good for a Boundee." Totosai rubbed his chin. "You know what must be done to live long enough to break the Bounder. Don't let your pride get in the way this time. Death by a Bounder is far more insulting."
Sesshomaru fisted his new hand tightly. For once, the old demon made sense. And it infuriated him and his sense of duty. Father, at least, knew that a demon witch might try to snare his son in a Bounder and gave him a way out. Still, the miko being a necessary part of his escape insulted everything he stood for.
How had this Sesshomaru fell for such a simple trick?
That would be a question he would ponder on their journey to find Inuyasha. His little brother was known to be hanging out in the forest of the same name since Naraku removed part of little brother's memory.
There, he would take Tetsusaiga with the miko's help and begin their journey to remove the Bounder.
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Kagome woke from her nap. She became so tired while waiting for the two demons to finish conversing she dropped off unexpectedly and slept deeply. Her sleeping bag was laid out under her to give her a little reprieve from the hard rock beneath her. The backpack she carried all her supplies sat next to her head.
Sitting up, she found Sesshomaru resting against the rock face near the caves entrance. A thought occurred to her. It just might work. Getting to her feet, she straightened her uniform and walked towards Sesshomaru.
Once she neared him, Sesshomaru lifted his eyes to her.
"I'll make you a deal, Sesshomaru." Kagome folded her arms, her eyes on Sesshomaru. "Help me get the Shikon Jewel back into its whole state and I wish this thing off us. Then I can go home. You get rid of me, I get rid of you. It's a win-win situation."
Sesshomaru stared at brazen forthright of the woman. Few women were bold enough to offer a proposal. None presented such a proposal in such a non-formal format and with such defiant confidence in his presence.
"You believe the Shikon Jewel will free us from this tether?"
"Yeah. It'll give us whatever we want most." Kagome lifted her chin confidently. "I figure by the time we find the other half, the only desire we'll have is to get away from one another. I know you hate humans and I really don't want to stay here in the dark ages anymore."
"Home is?"
Not that he cared about humans. 'Odd this Sesshomaru should ask this miko a question of inquiry.' Perhaps the tether forced him to think about the plight of the woman. Sesshomaru lowered his amber eyes to the ground nonchalant.
"500 years into the future." Kagome smiled then babbled on. "No demons, no fighting, no stupid civil wars. Just peace and quiet, college if I'm lucky and maybe a boyfriend or two."
"Inuyasha?"
Kagome lost her smile, hesitating before answering.
"He's made his choice." Kagome shifted her eyes to the ground, keeping her head held high. "I've wasted enough time. We got a deal or not?"
Sesshomaru lifted his eyes to stare at the miko then nodded.
'That went easier than expected.' Kagome half expected him to strike her down then and there. 'Wonder why he didn't say no?' She considered and half expected him to ignore her proposal and leave had he not struck her down. Sesshomaru continued to surprise her just when she thought she had him figured out.
Sesshomaru rose to his feet eerily calm.
"Come." Was all he said and he walked off.
"Where're we going?" Kagome frowned, her hands on her hips.
"To find Inuyasha." Sesshomaru began walking away. "He will be lurking around in the Forest of Inuyasha."
Kagome gulped at the idea.
Inuyasha?
She would have to see him again? What did Sesshomaru need to search for his younger brother for? Then it hit her. He needed Tetsusaiga. That was it! But Inuyasha would not relent it so easily. And of course, he needed her to carry the sword since Sesshomaru was not allowed to use the sword's power himself.
'A few more days, girl!' Kagome winced at the notion. 'A few more days, that's all you need to think about. You can get through this! Keep to the plan!'