Disclaimer: As much as I'd like to own the characters they all belong to Takahashi Rumiko, not me.

A/N: This chapter is all/almost all about Sesshoumaru/Kagome. Also, a very lengthy chapter, longer than the norm for me. Shower me with reviews! Please? I'd like to know what everyone thought of it.

One random comment, "I love rice, I eat it with a lot of things, I eat it everyday. Don't you love rice, too?" XD

A Gap Across Time

VI: From Bad to Worse

"Kagome! Who's that man you're supporting!" Kagome's grandpa exclaimed. He took tentative steps closer to the two, wanting to get a good glimpse of Sesshoumaru's bowed head. Squinting his eyes, he said, "he looks a lot like Inuyasha."

"Grandpa, please!" Kagome hurriedly looked to Sesshoumaru to see his expression; brown eyes furrowing with worry. Other than a low snarl the taiyoukai didn't do anything else. Kagome sweat dropped, knowing all too well that he would have assaulted her grandpa if he had had the strength to do so. If only, eh, Sesshoumaru? Turning back to her grandpa, she pleaded with him. "Please, can you not bother us at the moment?"

"Aaahhhhh, my only granddaughter is already up to that kind of mischief!" He wailed and wailed, ignoring the fact that Kagome was giving him an estranged stare.

"Silence that old man," Sesshoumaru hissed. His sense of hearing was already sharp; the fever only made it more unbearable. Kagome looked from the Demon Lord to her grandpa helplessly. "If you don't do it soon, I will." Kagome could clearly hear the threat in his tone, from the way he was glaring at her she knew he really meant it. If her grandpa didn't pipe down . . .

Aaauuuhhhh, tell me this isn't happening! "Grandpa!" He still continued to wail needlessly. "Grandpa, shut up!" He stopped immediately, never in his life had he ever heard of his granddaughter saying that to him before; he gave her a hurt look, his wrinkled face becoming a frown. "You . . . you've got it all wrong, grandpa. As you can see, I'm trying to help this man here to the bathroom; he's injured so he's in need of assistance. So, um, if you'll excuse us . . ."

"Kagome, who is this young man? He does resemble Inuyasha quite a bit in fact." He blocked their path when Kagome tried to side-step him. "No need to be bashful, you can tell your grandpa."

Sesshoumaru was so annoyed at this point that he looked up at the old man, golden eyes glaring at him dangerously. Kagome's grandpa didn't take a second to register that as a threat, he gulped and backed up a step. Kagome was baffled at her grandpa's sudden change in mood - she had no idea that Sesshoumaru was scaring the wits out of him.

"Move aside, old man," Sesshoumaru commanded, voice dripping with malice at each spoken word.

Kagome worriedly bit her bottom lip, she could see how dangerous Sesshoumaru had become even if he was barely able to move on his own. As much as she wanted to help the taiyoukai she would never forgive him if he injured her grandpa. But then again, he might not care either way. You can see how heartless he is after all, Kagome. That little blush was far from the real Sesshoumaru . . . Kagome snapped put of her musings when she felt Sesshoumaru's weight suddenly make her lurch to the side. She would have lost her balance completely if it wasn't for her left hand clinging onto the side of her open bedroom door.

"Sesshoumaru . . .?" she asked hesitantly.

"He's about to keel over," her grandpa told her.

My strength . . . what ails me, rendering me to be so weak . . .? So pathetic . . .?

-----

"Inuyasha, you fool! This is Kikyou!" Inuyasha craned his neck in the general direction of the highly irked youkai. His golden eyes heatedly clashed with her brown ones. "I thought you'd have enough sense to know who she is!"

"And who the fuck are you?" Inuyasha interrogated, not liking the harsh tone the other youkai was directing at him. His eyes fell on the parchment that she held within her grasp, it only took him a moment to realize that she was probably another one of Sesshoumaru's counselors. A low growl escaped his lips.

"I'm Tsume, a counselor from your brother's kingdom. I've brought Kikyou with me to get you to come with us, you do care for her, no?"

"Of course I do!"

"Inuyasha, please come . . ." Kikyou tried her best to looking pleadingly at the hanyou. There was something that she wanted really badly, and yet she couldn't tell him the reason for her wish. Perhaps in time he would get to know. "It's very important to me if you do this."

"What could be so important?" Miroku intervened, saving Inuyasha from answering.

"Miroku, unbind me! That bitch must have forced Kikyou into doing this! I'll make her pay for it! Kikyou!" Inuyasha craned his neck towards her as best as he could. "Don't listen to her, she's just using you!"

"Using me?" she replied with mock sincerity. This reminded her of the day Inuyasha betrayed her fifty years ago - he had used her to get the sacred jewel. How can I believe what he is saying when he is the same way? "You speak of ill-naught, you were once this way, too, it's only that I can trust Tsume to keep her word."

"That . . . Oh my god, Kikyou, I didn't betray you back then." Inuyaha's voice was suddenly filled with pure emotion. "That wasn't me. It was Naraku disguised as me and he killed you for the sacred jewel, I swear."

"It pains me, Inuyasha, to see you this way."

Despite the fact that he wasn't the one that killed her the hanyou couldn't help but feel bad. It was at this moment that he made his decision, his voice rung out clear and true with no hints of doubt or fear. "Okay, I'll do it. Release me, Miroku, I'm going to do it for Kikyou's sake."

"Excellent choice Inuyasha, I knew you'd come around," Tsume crooned.

"I'm not doing this for Sesshoumaru, got it?" he snapped.

"Of course."

Everything is falling into place.

Inuyasha winced in pain when Sango, Shippou, and Miroku kneeled down on either side of him as they pulled the sutra charms off. From each pull, searing pain that felt like a stinging sensation ripped across the skin that made contact with the sutras; even through the clothing they did reach. Kikyou would've helped but Tsume blocked her path, silently warning her to stay away from the hanyou.

"Goddamit, Miroku, what the hell did you do to these sutras? They hurt like a son-of-a-bitch when you guys pull them off!" Inuyasha muffled a cry when Sango accidentally pulled on one a little too hard. She flushed and immediately apologized though it was ignored. "Why did you have to put so many on me?"

Sweat dropping, Miroku replied, "well, I needed a lot to restrain you since you're not exactly all human. And as for the pain from the sutras, I am truly sorry. These were the only kind I had an abundance of so I was thinking to myself: 'why not use some?'"

"More like a lot," Sango corrected him.

Once Inuyasha was freed he flexed his stiff muscles eagerly and stretched his inactive limbs to get the blood flowing again. All the while his eyes remained on Kikyou who was quietly talking to Tsume not too far off, she'd turn his way and glance at him several times though her eyes didn't linger very long. From the way her eyes lighted up each time she looked at him, Inuyasha knew that something wonderful was going to happen. This, in itself, helped ease the idea that he had to play as a babysitter for his absent half-brother, Sesshoumaru.

-----

Sesshoumaru's tired eyes fought to stay open and alert, but he found it even hard to do when warm water surrounded his hot, sticky skin. He hadn't thought much about how the raven haired girl placed him into the tub without looking at his manhood; at the current moment he could care less. His equally tired mind could discern the idea that someone was gently washing his pale arms; a wash cloth rubbed over the length of his purpled striped skin.

Kagome, too, was surprised that she managed to place Sesshoumaru into the tub with the mind of keeping his hidden region privately concealed; least to say intact. She had the urge to call for Souta's help again, but he conveniently wasn't home anymore thanks to his soccer pals who wanted him to go out and play. Worst yet, she was the one that allowed him to go when he asked her if she needed any more help. Aside from this her mom went grocery shopping while her grandpa went back into the shrine to pray. She could only guess what exactly he was praying for . . .

The soapy surface of the water covered the normally clear liquid with a mountain of suds. Kagome was grateful nonetheless, in this way she wouldn't have to look away from the taiyoukai.

Voice heavy and sullen, Sesshoumaru asked, "why are you doing this?"

"Look, Sesshoumaru, you don't always need a reason to help someone. You should do it out of kindness," she said thoughtfully. A small smile managed to grace her pink lips momentarily.

"You speak nonsense," he replied.

"You know . . ." Kagome stared at him intently and randomly said, "while you're stuck here . . . I wonder how Inuyasha and the others are doing without me? I haven't gone back for almost a month now . . ."

"Don't waste your breath on a hanyou like him." Sesshoumaru sagged his shoulders considerably, the warm water helped loosen his tense muscles. His half-lidded eyes stayed on Kagome, the smell of peaches was strong all around him. At this point his mind started to wander.

Rin, the palace . . . All must be strewn into chaos without me. I must go back.

Intrigued with new vigor Sesshoumaru tried to sit up in the tub. However, Kagome ushered him back down. Sesshoumaru growled, he'd had enough of her annoying tenacity to force him to stay put. This is my body and she does not have the right to rule over it. Even thinking such a thought like that sickened the taiyoukai; a demon Lord such as him being a bitch to a human girl did not appeal to him at all. He tried to sit up again only to be gently pushed back down by the stubborn raven haired girl.

"Let go of me, you incompetent woman."

"My name is Kagome, not woman," she corrected him. "Besides, you're injured, just worry about getting healed first. I'm sure your kingdom is-"

"You know nothing of the sort!" Sesshoumaru was truly angry now, the white areas of his eyes started to turn a light pink color. Kagome gasped and let go immediately, as soon as she did so the smell of peaches wasn't as strong but it still bother the demon Lord. "I've had enough of your insolent ministrations, you shall die here!" He lashed out a clawed hand at her, nails dipped with poison, however she dodged his attack. Sesshoumaru fell back against the tub's smooth surface when pain jolted from his injured ribcage and left shoulder; he had once again put too much strain on them.

Why do these wounds refuse to heal?

"Sesshoumaru, are you all right?" Kagome carefully asked, making sure to keep her distance from him. He was really serious about killing me, wasn't he! Kagome remained where she was as she watched the demon Lord of the Western Lands catch his breath. Her hair and clothing were now wet so they stuck closely to her skin, hugging her feminine figure. If Sesshoumaru paid any attention to her he would've seen all of her curves underneath her school uniform.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and bowed his head. His anger was dissipating, though it wasn't completely gone yet; he still had the desire to slit the girl's skinny throat . . . If only she were in reaching distance. Composing himself, eyes averted from her, he said, "I've warned you many times, do not touch me. When I tell you to let me go you still insist on disobeying my command, are you that desperate to feel my skin?"

Kagome blushed while frowning. "That-that wasn't it! I . . . I only wanted to help you . . . And sometimes when someone is injured you can't take no for an answer. Much like in your case, Sesshoumaru."

That voice. "Stop addressing me in such a fashion, I am Lord Sesshoumaru. You have no right to defile my name." It irritates me immensely.

"Oh? And you think woman is an appropriate title for me?" He glared at her. "Well, I've already told you many times that my name is Kagome . . . not woman!" Grandpa, pray to Buddha that Sesshoumaru will stop acting so high and mighty! It's already hard enough dealing with him without that sour tongue of his! "You can be so frustrating to talk to at times!"

"As of you."

Well aware of their situation, Kagome tried to keep everything as settled as possible. "Erm, since you're still in the tub you'd probably want to finish bathing, no?" Sesshoumaru didn't reply. "I can wash your hair and back for you . . ." Still no reply. "Se . . . Sesshoumaru?"

What's happening to me? Why is it that I can no longer speak?

A pulsating sensation could be felt around his wounds beneath the wet bandages. It was a definite fact that the arrows were no ordinary priestess arrows - they were something more sinister. He could hear the girl's concerned voice reverberating through his head, he longed to speak but he couldn't find the voice to do so. He really couldn't argue so he simply nodded his head, for once complying to the girl's wishes.

"How come you won't say anything?" Kagome took a bucket full of bath water and poured it over Sesshoumaru's head. (Her fear of him attacking her had already diminished.) He neither flinched nor moved an inch when Kagome squirted shampoo into her uninjured hand and massaged it into his scalp. It took her a while to do the task with one hand but she completed it. "Are you giving me the silent treatment?" Sesshoumaru remained tight-lipped while staring blankly ahead. His amber eyes were like two chunks of frozen stone, hard and sturdy like enamel. Kagome could only wonder what he was thinking about as she cleaned him.

When she was done, Kagome excused herself to get him a bathrobe. From the loss of contact the taiyoukai could feel his pulsating wounds flare up with pain: it was the strangest sensation he had ever felt. It was not that it wasn't unbearable, but given enough time even a demon Lord such as himself would be crushed from all the agony. However, Sesshoumaru found it very unlikely that he'd die from this . . . even if the pain became too much eventually. He couldn't die because he had something to live for: he had his kingdom and the lands of the West, there was still much to be done.

When Kagome came back with a bathrobe she found the taiyoukai shaking with another spasm again. The bathrobe suddenly felt too slippery for it slipped from her clutches, automatically a thin film of sweat overcame her. A horrible feeling from the gut of her stomach traveled up her throat and stayed lodged there, her eyes became glossy, her breathing shallow. Although these things were happening to her she still had one clear thought in her mind.

I must help Sesshoumaru no matter what!

-----

Mrs. Higurashi was the first to arrive home early to be welcomed by a very wet bathroom when she opened the door. A trail of blood ran the length of the tub and down along the tiled floor past the entryway. Without a moment's hesitation she rushed to her daughter's room to see both Kagome and the silver haired taiyoukai lying side by side on the carpeted floor. Blood seeped through the bathrobe that Sesshoumaru was wearing.

Sesshoumaru awoke to the sounds of many things, his ears were acutely sensitive; more so than before. A sink could be heard running from the kitchen, and Souta's voice floated down from the hallway. He could even feel someone's body heat beside him, all he had to do was turn his head to see that it was none other than the annoying raven haired girl. Her attire was now changed, she was in some strange looking clothing that Sesshoumaru assumed was sleepwear. The scent of peaches was strong as he laid there beside her. He thought it was strange that he didn't feel the desire to move away from her. However, upon losing contact he finally figured out why.

Her touch can soothe the pain . . . Interesting. What little sorcery did these hooded beings possess? And where would this girl receive such a burn on her hand, wasn't it she who pulled out my arrows?

Kagome flung a hand upward, knocking the curtain above their heads open. Bright sunlight filtered through and warmed the blanket from their chest down. It wasn't difficult for the taiyoukai to realize that he had remained within this house for one day already. From the looks of it, it appeared to be early afternoon and he was feeling really hungry. Although he wanted something to eat he knew that now was not the time to think about his stomach, there were simply too many things to worry about.

"Meeeooooww."

Sesshoumaru looked up above his head to see an extremely fat cat sitting on the windowsill. Its large blue eyes looked back down at him, its tail swishing back and forth in a content manner. The cat's purring rung through his ears, the sound of it was more sating than annoying much to Sesshoumaru's surprise. He closed his magenta tinted lids and tuned into the sound, drowning out all other noises. One could have called it meditation since the demon Lord went completely rigid, his breathing slow and shallow and he tried his best to clear his thoughts and ignore his aching wounds. It worked for a while until the fair skinned girl woke up beside him.

Kagome stifled a yawn as she stretched, or rather tried to stretch her arms. She glanced over to her left when she realized that her left shoulder came into contact with something warm and soft. A blood-curdling scream left her lips before she even knew she was shrieking. Sesshoumaru grimaced at best: the pitch of her scream was right beside his ear. It took him several moments to regain his posture and glare at her angrily since words were robbed from him because of his muteness.

"What's the problem!"

"What's the matter!"

"What's all the screaming about!"

Souta, Mrs. Higurashi, and Kagome's grandpa came running into the room and started to flock around the twin-sized bed. Kagome turned beet red as she looked at her family, then to Sesshoumaru.

Buyo broke the silence. "Meow."

"Is there something the matter?" Mrs. Higurashi asked slowly as she watched her daughter's every movement and expression. "Are . . . are you tired?"

"Mom!" She pointed a finger at the taiyoukai, nearly missing poking him in an eye. Everyone followed the movements of her hand so now all of their attention was directed at Sesshoumaru's beautifully striped face. "Why are we sleeping on the same bed! He - he should have slept somewhere else!"

"Kagome, honey, this is the biggest bed we have in the house. Souta and your grandpa had to bunk together while I took the couch, since your bed isn't fit to sleep in with all that blood that has smothered it." Kagome's startled expression dulled considerably, the heat in her cheeks lowering every second as she digested everything her mother said. "Yesterday . . . I found you and Sesshoumaru unconscious on your bedroom floor . . . he and you were wet as well as obviously worn out; it was easy to see on the expression on your faces." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at her, he had never remembered looking that way even when he was injured or at times weak with fever. "I'm worried about you, Kagome. All I'm hoping for . . . is that you forget about that one thing in your past so you can move on . . ."

"Mom . . ." Kagome knew all too well what her mother was talking about.

Those spasms . . . They were so hard to watch, at those times I've always felt helpless when I realized that with my own hands - even with yours . . . we couldn't save him. Even now, I'm still glad that Souta was only a baby when this all happened . . . He didn't know any of this at all, though at times I thought he had the right to.

"Well, enough of that." A good-natured smile spread across Mrs. Higurashi's lips. "I'm sure the two of you must be hungry so I've made lunch a little late, and in that way everyone can eat together."

"Wow, mom, you're the greatest!" Kagome gushed.

Feeling that Sesshoumaru was being neglected of any attention, Souta asked, "ah . . . Sesshoumaru, how are you feeling today? Are you any better?" Sesshoumaru inclined his head in the general direction of the smaller boy, he took a good look into his chocolate colored eyes. In some ways, this boy known as Souta, reminded him a lot about Rin. For a flickering moment the taiyoukai thought he felt a pang of pain within his heart - confused by the sensation he frowned down upon the boy. "Um, did I do something wrong?"

"Don't mess with him, Souta. You don't want to get on his bad side . . ." his grandpa warned him.

Stupid humans . . .

In this point in time Sesshoumaru wanted nothing more than to be back in his own room; in his own quiet study back in the feudal era where he rightfully belonged. He longed for the silence more than ever; he longed for everything that was supposedly his. Moreover, he found the fever that he was perceived to be having he considered as a hinderance, it wasn't a simple cold: this fever was beyond all that. It in itself made him lose his voice, strength, and his senses were so highly stimulated that the slightest nuisances pricked at him; much like a thorn that has pricked one's finger, causing it to bleed.

"Sessshoumaru, would you mind joining us for lunch?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.

He looked at her for a moment, unsure of what his response should be. In spite of himself he readily agreed with a nod of the head, since he couldn't fight off the pangs of hunger any longer. It also intrigued him as to what humans on this side of the well ate, today it would be his first time he'd get a taste of it.

At the family table Sesshoumaru was astounded to find that the food they were eating wasn't too different in appearance compared to what he ate back in the feudal era. However, the taiyoukai knew better than to judge something by its appearance, here, at the table taste was going to be a big factor, too. It was already crazy enough that he was to eat lunch with humans let alone enjoy their hospitaility; all was not as it should have been. The demon Lord was at great unease, although to what extent did he want to show this around the girl and her family? It was very unlike him to worry about matters such as the girl and her family . . . In fact, they should have been no concern to him whatsoever.

Still, why is my heart troubled by such a burden as heavy as this?

"Sesshoumaru . . . try some fish, I hope it's to your liking," Mrs. Higurashi told him. She warmly smiled at him when he looked at her.

This woman . . . she reminds me too much of her. I mustn't let my thoughts linger to the past as well - I must look ahead and achieve my goals one by one. If what that stubborn girl says is true, then I am utterly at a loss to go back to my time. Although I'll make sure to check the well myself. Humans can never be trusted . . . I should know this from the mistake my stupid half-brother fell into. That was why he was pinned to the tree for fifty long years.

"Come on, Sesshoumaru, try some," Kagome urged, bravely nudging him gently. It still puzzled her that he wouldn't utter a word - this was very unlike him. Heh, it's only been a day and I think it's not like him to talk? I'm going way in over my head . . . Maybe he's just ignoring us . . .

Gracefully picking up his chopsticks he placed the chopsticks to a piece of the fish's flesh, tearing it apart from the rest as he brought a small portion to his mouth. Ignoring the stares from the Higurashi household he placed the fish inside his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. The Higurashis' waited for an reaction of dislike or like though none came, Sesshoumaru was unnaturally expressionless.

Well . . . So much for an reaction . . .

Kagome looked to her mother and smiled, trying to mouth to her that the taiyoukai truly did like her cooking. Mrs. Higurashi smiled back, surprisingly she didn't look irked at all. At times, Kagome wondered how her mother dealt with men like Sesshoumaru, it made her think that her mother had her fair share of expressionless beings.

-----

"I'm assuming everything is going smoothly?" A tall, dark figure walked across the sand strewn forest sea floor. His bright green eyes looked at the bowed creature before him. "Have you done what I've asked of you?"

"Yes, my Lord. I did everything exactly the way you wanted me to."

"Tell me. Why is it that you think this Inuyasha a good choice?"

"Well, my Lord, he is quite the nitwit and brash at best. He'll never suspect something of this sort to reach the kingdom, you'll soon have what you've always desired." In this instance the words suddenly took on a different face as the youkai spoke. "Also, I find you very gifted having the ability to live on land and sea."

"Such flattery is welcomed, but don't expect me to let you rise up higher among my ranks. Remember what you are."

"Yes, my Lord. I want nothing more than to simply please you."

To be continued!