Chapter four: How to royally piss off Sesshomaru
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Kagome panted as she ran threw the forest of InuYasha. For some strange reason she had trouble getting enough breath to run. Suddenly she was running so blindly she tripped on a gnarled tree root. At the same time she saw a flash of silver rush just above her head.
On the ground she was dazed and sore from the fall, but nothing else. Suddenly a lock of hair fell from her shoulders. She gasped in realization; completely horrified how close Sesshomaru came to ending her life. She got up and continued to run as he was just able to walk threw the trees.
"Hnnn" Sesshomaru hummed gazing down at the black hair he cut. 'Pity, missed by a millimeter.'
Sesshomaru then heard hurried feet coming behind him coming from behind him. "Taji"
"Y-Yes Sesshomaru-sama?" Taji responded, slightly out of breath. She was just able to catch up to Sesshomaru.
"Gather the lock of hair on the ground and figure out the spell"
"Yes Sesshomaru-sama!" Taji said as she picked up the hair. "Remember Sesshomaru-sama; spare the woman's life until I know we need nothing else from her"
"Hurry then or I shall take yours instead" Sesshomaru threatened as he went in the direction of Kagome's scent. Taji gulped she sat down on the ground. Meditating was going to harder just to know your life was in the hands of an aristocratic assassin.
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InuYasha jerked awake in pain. This head felt like a cracked egg shell! He was experiencing one of the worst pains he ever felt in his life. He released a moan. "Do not try to get up" advised a familiar voice. A wet cloth was placed on his forehead.
InuYasha fluttered his eyes. The first thing he saw was the wrinkled face of the old miko. "…Kaede…?"
"Good I suppose your memory is intact" she commented. The way his head pounded, InuYasha wasn't sure about that. "How can I forget an old hen like you?" He commented and then turned his head to look at his surroundings. He gasped. On straw mats next to him were Sango and Miroku.
"Miroku, Sango!" InuYasha yelled propping himself up on his elbows. He then saw kirara and Shippo in the same predicament. "Are they—"
"Yes, they are all fine, just unconscious. Your elder brother's attack missed them but the blast threw them quite a distance" Kaede explained glancing over at the fallen comradeship.
InuYasha gasped, everything was coming back to him. "Sesshomaru, that son of a bitch!" he yelled remembering he was ambushed but then he paused remembering the reason why he was out there in the open meadow in the first place. "Kagome! Where is she?!" he demanded getting up despite the pain. "Did she return to her time safely?!"
"I do not know InuYasha. When I finally arrived with some of the men from the village I found you all unconscious and these beads of submission but no Kagome" Kaede said. She then held up a scarlet beaded necklace with ivory. InuYasha remembered them. That wench had threatened him with those before Sesshomaru came. But there were two. Sesshomaru had one on but he threw it away after he discovered Taji's could control him…
InuYasha snatched the necklace from Kaede's hands and began to sniff it. As he was observing it, the scent of its owner came to him. A faded scent of a person he did not know but the two other scents where powerful and familiar: The old Kaede and the intoxicating aroma of Kagome.
InuYasha's ears twitched in realization as he get took another sniff. Kagome's scent was the strongest on this item meaning she had it last…That means…
"Damn it!" InuYasha cursed out loud as he stuffed the necklace in his robes. He then hurriedly grabbed his Tenssaiga from the corner of the hut.
"What is at mist?" Kaede asked bracing herself for the worst.
"It's the rosary! Kagome, the idiot! She picked up the wrong one!"
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Meanwhile Sesshomaru's pack had just arrived at the forest of InuYasha. Jaken, Kohaku and Rin were riding on Ah-Un.
"Oh, it's the orchard tree!" Rin shouted suddenly. "Is that what you spied?" She pointed her finger to one of the tallest trees in the forest. Kohaku groaned. "Are you the Mistress of Games or something?" he asked.
Rin laughed. "No! But I am pretty good!" They were currently playing a game called 'I spy' to pass the time. "My turn!" she giggled. "Okay my turn! I spy—ah! A pretty demon!" she exclaimed. Everyone turned their heads downward to look in the forest. Below them sat Taji in deep mediation.
"Ho-oh!" Jaken exclaimed excitedly. "You spotted the witch Taji! Well done Rin! Sesshomaru-sama must be here too!
Rin beamed. It was rare to get compliments instead of curses from Jaken.
The little imp jabbed the dragon-horse with the staff of two heads. "Land right here Ah-Un, now!" he shrieked. The dragon-horse moaned in displeasure but obeyed.
Taji looked up to see the group approaching her on foot after landing. She sniffed. Sesshomaru's scent on them was faint, but noticeable. "Oh, you're Sesshomaru's pack"
"Hai, hello" Rin greeted politely as she bowed her head.
"Be quiet Rin!" Jaken snapped and then turned his attention to Taji. "Now, do you have what is required of you to serve Sesshomaru-sama?" Jaken questioned, peering at her.
Taji's eyebrow twitched visibly. How could Sesshomaru keep something so annoying around? "Hai" she answered.
"Now you have no excuse to figure out the dreadful spell Yuriko placed on my master! You better do it right hanyou or there will be consequences!" he threatened.
"You know what Jaken I like a dish called fey soup. Its main ingredient is imp and lizard meat. So don't tempt me; I haven't eaten in 3 days" Taji replied calmly.
Jaken squawked and took a few wise steps back.
Taji then closed her eyes and continued her mediation. She chanted under her breath as the yin/yang pendant and the pieces of Sesshomaru's and Kagome hair began to glow. It pulsed several times then faded away. Instantly Taji's snapped open in shock.
"T-this can't be!" she stuttered. "H-how is this e-even possible?!!!" she yelled. "Not in all my years have I seen something so extraordinary! Oh Kami! Sesshomaru is going to kill Yuriko!" Taji immediately stood up and ran as fast as she could in the direction Sesshomaru went. "Sesshomaru-sama!!!!!!!" Taji bellowed as she ran.
"Silly hanyou, get back here! Rin stay here! Hanyou! What has Yuriko done to Sesshomaru-sama?!" Jaken yelled running after Taji. Rin took Kohaku's hand and lead him over to Ah-Un's back. She jumped on first and then helped Kohaku up. "Hurry Ah-Un to Sesshomaru-sama!" she yelled.
The lighting Dragon moaned and hurried in the same direction. "But didn't Jaken just tell us to stay here?" Kohaku reasoned.
"My Lord may be in danger Kohaku, I must go!" Rin said determined. "If nothing else, just to be by his side"
Kohaku wanted to ask badly, 'and what can you do about it?' but he knew she had a strong heart. Maybe she could help somehow…
'Please, please be alright my lord' Rin begged mentally. Kohaku held her hand. "It'll be alright Rin-chan, you'll see" he encouraged though he didn't know how or what was the problem.
Rin smiled brightly. "Arigato Kohaku!"
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'Get to the well its salvation, get to the well its salvation, get to the well its salvation!!!!' was all her mind kept screaming. Kagome ran so fast, everything was a blur that was until she ran into a brick wall that seemed to materialize right in front of her. She fell to ground. Releasing a gasp of surprise and pain, she looked up to see her worst nightmare; Sesshomaru.
"Hello miko" Sesshomaru said soullessly. Kagome gulped backing away on her palms. Seeing her cower in fear made the ice prince smirk. "Why fear me miko? I will not kill you…yet"
'Yet?!' Kagome's mind screamed. 'That means he is planning to kill me!'
"What did I do to deserve this?" Kagome muttered under her breath as she rose to her feet rubbing her sore backside.
"It was not of your doing of why you must be terminated" Sesshomaru answered.
Kagome narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you putting me and my friends through Hell?!" she demanded, at once forgetting her fear and who she was talking to. "Why are you going to kill me?!"
"Because of a curse you are entangled in my life miko and you shall have no part in it"
It seemed to Kagome that Sesshomaru had finally lost his marbles. She didn't want to die but what could she— her eyes widen. She remembered grabbing the new rosary meant for InuYasha before she ran off. 'That's it!' her mind cheered. Her hand patted her skirt's pocket. If she could somehow get the necklace on Sesshomaru's neck she may live to tell about it!
'I just need to get close enough and I'll throw it on him! It's a one in a zillion chance but at least it's a chance! I gotta distract him to get as close as I can!'
"Oh please" she snorted taking a few steps forward. "Like I ever want to be a married to you!"
Sesshomaru sneered silently. "The feeling is neutral"
Kagome took another step. "What curse? How exactly did it weave me into your life?" She asked somewhat curious.
"A nymph has cursed us to be mates" Sesshomaru said flatly.
"W-What?!" Kagome yelled in disbelief.
"Exactly and this Sesshomaru does not plan to mix his seed with human vermin" Sesshomaru took a step toward Kagome.
'Humph! He's one to talk; At least I'm not a mutt!' Kagome snorted mentally. "Then why am I still breathing?"
"There's a second part to this curse. I'm doing a recreation of the spell in order to decipher the whole thing. I'm leaving you alive just long enough to see if I require anything else from you"
"Well since I'm going to die one way or another by your hand, I have one request" Kagome said suddenly. She took a step forward, standing directly in front of Sesshomaru; her face only a few inches apart from his.
Sesshomaru blinked. He had never been this close to the girl. For a human she was extremely well groomed and her scent was fragranced lightly with some sort of oil and vanilla bean, he guessed. It was appealing whatever it was; the lovely perfume certainly rivaled with the ladies in the courts! Even though she traveled with a poor comradeship, her family must be rich to afford such luxuries for her.
"What is it, miko?" he asked emotionlessly. He frowned slightly. Her scent also smelled familiar…somehow to a scent he recalled unconsciously many years ago.
"Forgive me but I always wanted to do—THIS!" Kagome stood on her tipping toes and locked lips with a shocked Sesshomaru. Her kiss was forced and passionate. Her lips soft as rose petals fitted perfectly on his. Before Sesshomaru's mind could react his instincts took over causing him to deepen the kiss.
The miko slacked off, her passion fading. She seemed taken aback by his returned affection but then she pushed back forcefully. She placed her arms around his neck. Instantly his hands enveloped her waist. He had kissed another female before but it was cold and plain… this kiss however electrified him so that he began to feel a certain tingle coming from an unspeakable place…
His eyes cracked open. To stare into deep brown eyes…they sparkled in surprise and relief. They were so beautiful…it was just like…
Suddenly the kiss broke, the miko backed away quickly and clumsily. Her face was a lovely shade of scarlet from the lack of oxygen and from embarrassment. It took Sesshomaru a few seconds to realize what had just happened. His eyes widen. The miko, the disgusting human girl had just kissed him, Sesshomaru-sama. He allowed a human girl to appease to his senses?! Sick! Most of all Sesshomaru was disgusted with himself. His father's wisdom back lashed on him yet again!
"Sesshomaru, I know you seek to build your own empire one day and then plan to mate but son, the longer you live without mating the greater the desirer becomes even onto desperation. You are born with the need to spawn offspring to carry on your bloodline, remember that."
'Well I will not be this desperate!' Sesshomaru snarled mentally. His eyes beginning to bled crimson. He walked forward. His claws flexed. "You will perish here and now, for the disgraceful impudence you had done onto me!"
Kagome smirked; showing no fear at all. "I don't think so" she singed. "Check out your new necklace"
Sesshomaru hauled in his path looked down at his chest. The rosary was on his neck. He released a rare savage growl. His brother's bitch actually had tricked him. The kiss was nothing but a distraction and he fell for it blindly!
Kagome placed her hands on her hips as a smirk spreaded across her face. "Sesshomaru" she said. "Down!"
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Sesshomaru visibly flinched. He had witnessed what happened to his brother at the beads of submission on several occasions. Just to think he and the hanyou will have even more in common made him even sicker. He closed his eyes; his muscles tensing, waiting for the pull to the ground. It never came. Sesshomaru blinked and looked back at Kagome.
The miko seemed also shocked but pulled herself together. "D-Down Sesshomaru!" she yelled. Nothing happened. She then became frantic. "Down! Down! Down! Down! Down!" she screamed pointing to the ground like a manic. Realizing the miko's spell did not work Sesshomaru smiled a terrible spine chilling grin. The miko began to shake uncontrollably. "Oh Kami…" she breathed, beginning to back up slowly. Why didn't the necklace work? She's been mediating the spell for days along with Kaede's assistance. Was she that lame of a miko?
Sesshomaru reached around his neck for the rosary and pulled it off with a simple yank. He dropped it on the ground and stepped on it as he slowly began to walk forward. The Miko gasped in horror to realize her only salvation was gone. Sesshomaru could smell the musty sweat collecting under her arm pits. He inhaled deeper, the smell of fear. His terrible grin threatened to slice off his face as his eyes bleed crimson. Kagome continued to back up until she was back to back with a tree, ironically the time tree. She slipped to her knees; there was no point in running. Sesshomaru would just end her life faster.
'Life is so good with ten seconds left' she thought vainly.
"Get away from her you bastard! Windscar!!!"" bellowed a voice suddenly.
"InuYasha!" Kagome yelled in relief but then screamed when she realized the attack was heading right into her direction. There was no time to escape the blast. Suddenly a hand grabbed her arm promptly and swung her out of the way of the windscar. Kagome was still lying on the ground in shock as Sesshomaru evaded the blast and landed gracefully on his feet. His usually stoical face twisted with emotions of disbelief and repulsion. Kagome was shocked too, there was no way she could have survived…did Sesshomaru…?
"Kagome are you alright?!" InuYasha asked running over to Kagome who just numbly rose to her feet. She then broke out of her daze and huffed, remembering the person who was almost responsible for her untimely death.
"Sit boy!"
Immediately the hanyou slammed to the dirt. As soon as the spell wore off InuYasha pushed himself up from the ground. "What was that for wench?! I was trying to save you!!!" he yelled shaking his fist.
"Oh sure after you almost killed me!!!! InuYasha no baka! Pay attention! Are you really trying to rescue me or barbeque me?!"
Meanwhile Sesshomaru was in a psychological wreckage. His eyebrow twitched. Did he just impulsively save the very miko he was trying to kill?! "Kaze no Kizu!" Sesshomaru said wanting to make up for his moment of insanity and to also kill two birds with one stone.
"Talk later wench!" InuYasha yelled. He grabbed Kagome and threw her on his back and ran as fast as he could. They barely escaped the blast by inches. Its force had sent them both flying into the dirt. As Kagome got up she saw a beaded necklace on the ground. "Wait a minute, another rosary?" Kagome asked reaching to pick up the necklace. She recognized the red beads with ivory. Wait, these were the one! No wonder the beads around Sesshomaru's neck didn't work because it wasn't the right one! Kagome was so happy she could cry.
When InuYasha saw what she was reaching for he realized the beads fell out of his pocket and he used his gifted speed to snatch them away. "Oh no you don't!" InuYasha yelled pulling the beads out of Kagome's reach. "I'm not wearing two of those things!" he yelled remembering her threat earlier that day.
"No baka!" Kagome snapped, she leaned over and whispered. "It's for Sesshomaru. Maybe we can defeat him if only he was wearing these!"
"Will you have that little faith in me? I can beat up my brother any day of the week!" InuYasha snorted.
Kagome rolled her eyes; Males and their pride. But then InuYasha smirked. "…It would be nice to see Sesshomaru get sat…" He trailed off going into a day dream; his smirk increasing. He chuckled before he responded "Okay Kagome what we need to do?" he said. He gave the necklace back and crouched down for Kagome to climb on his back.
"Get into a close range and I can use my powers to entrap him in it!" She said while climbing on, and just in time too, Sesshomaru was coming near them. "But I need a few minutes of meditation to perform the spell."
"That's a little hard to do considering your on my back, one and two the energy fields that the Tenseiga is shooting off will most likely cook you" InuYasha pointed out. Kagome huffed. "You got a better idea then?" she questioned.
"No" the hanyou admitted. He then took off in the opposite direction. Kagome gasped looking back at Sesshomaru who seemed equally shocked but angry and offended at the hanyou's runaway. "Where are you going?" she asked in disbelief. When would InuYasha ever run from a fight especially a fight from his elderly brother?
"I'm giving us time" InuYasha answered. "Don't worry about that lame dog, he'll follow us!"
True enough Sesshomaru was using his super speed as he spoke. When InuYasha figured a distance that would at least give Kagome a little time he halted letting her off her back. As she was fiddling with the necklace he threw his robe of the fire rat over her shoulders before turning around to face his brother. He drew out the Tenssaiga and smirked. "Five minutes, say when" before he rushed out.
The brother's clashed their swords. After about several minutes of useless sword fighting, the two brothers leaned forward pressing their blades together, causing their faces to be only inches apart.
"Now you trade impetus for cowardice little brother?"
"Cant the fancy words Sesshomaru!"
"Don't blame me for your lack of comprehension" Sesshomaru said as he shoved InuYasha back. InuYasha landed on his feet but was thrown back to back with the ledge Kagome was mediating on. The Miko was startled from the impact and screamed down to InuYasha asking if he was okay, while unintentionally catching Sesshomaru's attention. As Kagome saw Sesshomaru coming toward them she felt her insides turn to jell-o but then something snapped within her.
'We must survive!' her mind thundered. 'I will die one day but it's not today and it's not going to be by Sesshomaru's hand!!"
Her chocolate eyes flashed a violent pink. When Sesshomaru saw this he immediately stopped, a sudden emotion took him that haven't happened since he was a pup; fear. He knew her potential; this miko had the power to purify any demon; Naraku, Menomaru and even him Sesshomaru-sama…
InuYasha sensed a creepily pure force vibrating from Kagome. Instinctively he moved out of the way. Sesshomaru inhaled deeply. He could kill the wench if he acted quickly enough. He sheathed his sword and ran as swift as he could. He cracked knuckles as they were beginning to glow neon green with poison.
Kagome chanted under her breath as the necklace floated upward from Kagome's hand. It then flew off and placed itself on Sesshomaru's neck. Sesshomaru noticed but he was only three feet away. Just one slash and it would be rendered useless. Poison dripped from his nails as raised his hand for the strike.
Kagome showed no fear with her eyes still flashing pink. In a low dangerous voice she said slowly. "Sesshomaru, down!"
Instantly the Dai-youkai of the West Lands halted in his assault and was brought to his knees. He struggled to remain upright.
"Down!" Kagome shouted again.
At the second command, Sesshomaru's handsome face kissed the earth. "Down!" Kagome yelled for the third time. Again Sesshomaru slammed further into the soil. "You are a bad doggie! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down!!!!!!!"
After Kagome finished, she sanked to her knees patting; her eyes where once again chocolate. InuYasha, who had wisely stood off to the side came over to his brother's still form with a blank look on his face. Then it hit him. The hanyou smiled and then his smiled turned into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
Kagome sighed rubbing her aching temple. Her headache from earlier that day was just getting worser by the minute. "Sit boy!" she said. Immediately InuYasha joined his brother in the dirt.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"You are giving me a headache with that all your laughing! Shesesh! Be quiet please InuYasha!"
"Stupid wench!"
"Si—"
"No! Okay I'll be quiet—!"
"You said I was a bad doggie?" asked a voice that sent chills down both InuYasha's and Kagome's spine. Sesshomaru gracefully rose from his grave pit with his hair covering his face. "Well heh, heh. I'm about to be a hellhound" Sesshomaru held his head up high revealing a most unpleasant smile; a smile of a demonic mad man. His eyes completely crimson, no pupils.
"Oh crap the sun!" InuYasha yelled. Kagome glanced to the west. The sun had settled and tonight was the night of the new moon. "Oh Kami…" Kagome breathed. As soon as the words left her lips InuYasha turned human. His silver hair turned black, his golden eyes to brown and his cute dog ears turned to round human ears. InuYasha swore as he sheathed his now useless Tenssaiga.
"Kagome, get to the well, it's your only hope, come on!" InuYasha yelled. He grabbed Kagome by the arm and they both ran to their only salvation, the well. Behind them a pink funnel cloud formed but they didn't dare to look back, they knew what it meant. Sesshomaru was transforming into his true form; a giant demonic dog with immense powers.
"There's the well!" Kagome exclaimed as they came into view of the bone eater's well. She laughed. "We're going to make it!"
"Do not be so sure, miko" said a gruff voice that sounded like thunder from behind them. Suddenly a white energy streak passed overhead and settled over the well. "I do not know the enchantment of this well but you shall never use it again!"
Then the energy ball transformed into a mighty beast. He took his paw and struck the well, shattering it to bits. InuYasha and Kagome stopped dead in their tracks. Kagome's eyes filled with tears. "InuYasha!" she yelled clinging to him. InuYasha hugged Kagome back protectively and they couched down. There was nothing they could do.
The earth shook as the giant white dog was began to pace forward with poison green saliva dripping from his jaws. When it touched the ground, the vegetation withered bare. In his true form Sesshomaru grinned menacingly at them. 'When I am through' he thought savagely. 'The miko and the hanyou will beg for death!'
-TBC…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Chosen Mibhar: I confess there's two different ways this chapter can be continued; Either humorously or drama or both, your pick…and again I apologize…I'm not deliberately leaving the chapters a cliff hanger each time—they just get too long and I have to slice it off at a certain time…
Reviews are welcome, I really did put 110 into this chapter.