Author's Note:

This story evolved as an as I went thing with no real end in mind. It was more of a character exploration of "what would happen if..." So enjoy this bitter exploration into hurt, healing and hope.

Be warned, since I haven't followed the series closely in years or seen the Final Act, I'm pretty sure some things won't fit into cannon.

Of Pride and Power
Chapter 23: Fear

From all of the furs cleaned after each of her meals, Kagome finally had enough to sew together a sizeable cloak. For the first time in weeks, she could traverse the mountain without suffering its windy chill. In the cerulean sky above, the sun shined brightly, offering some warmth to the wind whipped peak. Kagome wandered down the slope, harvesting herbs for tea and basking in the peacefulness of nature.

All was fine until the stone began to move. Like the armor atop an armadillo, jagged rocks protected the back of the oversized bear, its multiple eyes nothing but snake like slits. "Not this again." Kagome breathed, placing her basket down to take her bow in hand.

"Give me the jewel!" It roared, acidic drool dripping from its toothy maw.

"No chance mister." she answered as her fingers released an arrow. Fuschia sparkled as it struck the creature's neck. It howled and staggered when the second arrow sliced into its eye. The last arrow struck its heart and with a blast of glittering energy, the creature turned to dust.

With a "hmph!" of success, Kagome turned back to her basket only to find Sesshomaru a stone's throw away where he reclined atop a boulder. "What're you doing here?" she asked in blunt surprise.

Of course he said nothing and made no efforts to explain himself, leaving Kagome with the opportunity to fill in the blanks. "Did you follow me just to make sure I was ok?" she inquired with a sly grin of triumph on her cheeks. Clasping her hands together, her mischief continued. "Just admit it, you like me. It's okay Sesshomaru, I won't hold it against you, you just can't help it."

Still he said nothing, his attention on a passing cloud. Kagome approached him with a pout. Here she was, going through great lengths to tease him and Mr. Apathy couldn't bother to take the bait.

As she drew closer, Kagome noted his thoughtful countenance that left his gaze distant and his expression sober. "You ok?" she asked lightly. "What's eating you?" Gathering his thoughts, Sesshomaru's brow twitched and with the subtle movement, Kagome knew that whatever bothered him was serious.

"Kagome." he began. Her name rolled from his lips with such warmth that by comparison, the fur that insulted her felt coarse and cold. It wasn't often that he used her name and her ears were unaccustomed to the rich inflection with which his deep timbre caressed it. The experience was altogether...disturbing.

"Y-yeah?" she answered, clearing the crack in her voice with a light cough. "Hmm?"

The wind blew, his nose twitched, and a question followed. "In your time, where are the youkai?" he asked thoughtfully.

"Yeah there aren't any." she admitted flatly. "Somewhere in the past you all just go missing and humans take over the world." His brow twitched in annoyance at her account. "From what I seen, Lord Goro is the one at fault for that."

Annoyance turned to ire when his eyes thinned and his lips turned at the name of his enemy. "With that said, I don't think he's entirely to blame." she continued. "Your kind is proud and live by the old ways." she explained. "We humans probably just started to outnumber the youkai. There's strength in numbers and you can't kill all of us."

The fingers resting atop his tented knee flinched, his attention and hers moving to the deadly claws adorning them. A low hum of disapproval sounded at his jaw, his nose wrinkling at the thought.

"Um... maybe not strength in terms of muscle and experience." she offered weakly. It was a meaningless reassurance. Lord Goro and his ilk had already proven the strength of man over youkai. "Well, eventually we exchange weapons for cash and money becomes the true measure of strength. At that point it doesn't matter if you have warrior's honor or if you're strong. If you don't have cash you don't have anything."

"Will humanity even overcome this Sesshomaru?" he posed, his expression deepening in thought.

It was a rhetorical question, but Kagome answered it anyway. "Well put it like this," she began looking to the sky with a finger to her cheek. "If I hadn't come along to save you, what would've happen?"

While his face remained unchanged, Kagome could feel frustration radiating from his person. Sesshomaru was angry that much was certain. There was once a time where an angry Sesshomaru would've incited fear and trepidation. Kagome didn't know when, but somewhere along the way, that fear just stopped.

A normal, sane person would've never poked Sesshomaru in his cheek but after all she'd gone through, Kagome just didn't care what he thought. "Cut it out." she scolded as her finger dimpled his face. "If you want to live to see the future, just get smart."

"You dare accuse this Sesshomaru to be lacking in intelligence?" he questioned as he evaded her touch, his words terse and tense.

"Well you didn't make it to my time so you tell me." Instantly he stood, attempting to use his height to intimidate her-and failing. It didn't matter what he thought of it, the truth was the truth and Kagome had little to fear from it.

"You do not fear me." he observed after meticulous inspection through sight and scent.

"It got old after awhile." she admitted truthfully. "If you really want me dead, you'll do it. So you going on threatening you're going to kill me really doesn't work. Nice try though!" the latter sentiment was accompanied with a chipper grin and Kagome felt proud of herself for her fearlessness.

Contemplatively he eyed her. "If fear of death no longer holds power over you, then I shall give you something new to fear."

"If the threat to kill me isn't doing it, I'm not sure anything will." she countered bravely. Afterall, Kagome was generally fearless to a fault. Very little would truly make her afraid.

Sesshomaru stood straight and looked to her, his gaze holding hers. "Kagome." he said.

Blinking, Kagome looked to him. "What?"

With his attention unwavering, he called for her again. "Kagome." he repeated, his tone a touch softer and a hair warmer.

A slight unease enveloped her and Kagome shifted beneath the weight of his attention. "Yeah?"

The painted lids above his eyes lowered to hood his gaze. "Kagome." Again her name rolled from his lips like a buttered bread doused in honey and warmed by fire.

This time, her attention heightened and Kagome couldn't help but start to feel uncomfortable. Sesshomaru was intense and with his focus absorbed with her and her name, a sudden sense of smothering left her chest blanketed in a warmth unknown.

"Come on, cut it out." she reasoned, even as she felt herself lean away from him. "This is getting weird."

What distance she gained was lost as he smoothly followed her motion, leaning forward. Where her posture was awkward, his was relaxed and loose.

"Kagome." he said his tone taking on a husky rasp that stilled her completely.

"Se-Sesshomaru. What're you doing?" she murmured, lowering her voice to unconsciously mimic his.

Then, like the final nail in a coffin, Sesshomaru stepped forward to invade her space. "Kagome." he breathed. Her name rolled from his lips at an unhurried pace, allowing his tone to taste each syllable and sound.

Apprehension prickled every nerve and synapse beneath her skin. The world around her suddenly became muted and distant, her awareness solely on him. He leaned forward, she took a step back and the light of victory shimmered in his eyes.

With his words light and his presence heavy, Sesshomaru spoke. "Kagome." he breathed. "You fear."

And she did.