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 32: Humility

It was late afternoon when the first cannon sounded. The cold iron door beneath Kagome's palm trembled as more cannons fired, followed by the unmistakable warcry of hundreds of soldiers rushing to battle. Kagome went still, pausing her useless efforts to leverage the door open with a silver serving plate.

Her own hand took on a tremble as her thoughts wildly entertained whatever horrid nightmare of Sesshomaru's demise that her mind could concoct. Gunfire was accompanied by sizzling priestly energies that left her ears tingling. The jewel at her chest pulsed, responding to the powerful yoki from within the grounds.

Dropping her makeshift crowbar, Kagome banged her fist against the door. "Hey! Let me out!" she demanded before turning her back to look around the room. Useless. There wasn't a single thing that she could use to get out of here. In her frustration, Kagome kicked the bent platter at her feet, watching with some mild satisfaction as it awkwardly clanged away from her.

Such satisfaction was short lived as the sound of rifle fire exploded in the hallway beyond. Shaking, Kagome stepped away from the door as choked blood curdling screams replaced gunshots. The groaning of the heavy doors was the only warning she was given to move before they were torn from the stone that held them. Wind and dust exploded with the force and Kagome shielded her face from the wayward debris. As the dust settled, Kagome's fingers moved to her lips, her eyes watering.

Pristine silk of white was now torn and soiled with blotches of bright red at the leg, arms and ribs. The cracked armor at Sesshomaru's chest lifted rapidly with shallow pained breaths of exhaustion. One eye was shut to prevent the trickle of fresh blood streaming from his hairline from entering; its wild crimson pair looking intently to her.

"You idiot." she breathed, moving to him, her fingers gingerly brushing against the stained fabric afraid to upset his injuries. "What did they do to you?"

For a breath in time, Sesshomaru said nothing. The crimson sclera slowly faded to white as his eye drank its fill, studying her every feature, his body untensing with unspoken relief. "Kagome." he breathed, taking a laboured step forward...and falling. Like an arrow moving from a bow, Kagome raced forward to catch him, grunting under his weight. Struggling beneath him, Kagome slumped to her knees while guiding Sesshomaru to do the same. A clawed hand moved to her back and his cheek to her hair. "You live." he whispered, breathing deeply.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and she hid her face into his his neck. "I was so worried." she admitted. "I thought they would've killed you."

A sharp hum of indignation sounded. "This Sesshomaru is not so weak to allow a mere human such an honor." he informed with a labored breath.

Kagome let out a pained chuckle, nuzzling her face into the collar of his robe. "You idiot. I thought you were smarter. Didn't you learn anything from your dad?" she hiccuped, remembering the fatal tale of the Great Dog General who lost his life to rescue Izayoi. A light pinch to her side was the only reproof he gave. With her chest against his, Kagome could feel exactly how labored his breathing was. "You need rest." she advised, attempting to move back but denied by his hand firmly planted at her back. "Sesshomaru..." she chided with little conviction.

The daiyoukai inhaled deeply his nose pressing into the thickness of her hair. "You live." he breathed softly. Kagome calmed, nodding her chin. Remembering Goro's trap, Kagome knew that Sesshomaru had thought her dead, but what she couldn't grasp was the importance of her life to him. It was obvious that Sesshomaru cared for her, but to go so far as to risk his life? That in and of itself was unthinkable and something Kagome didn't wholly understand.

In a sudden sweep of action Sesshomaru stood, pulling Kagome to her feet. "Wait! Stop! What are you doing? You need to rest!" she snapped, pressing her hands to his soiled chest.

Sesshomaru's focus was distracted as he assessed their surroundings, his eye darting to things unseen. "We are not safe here." he informed, even as he unsheathed his sword to slash the air, sending an explosion of energy to destroy the stone wall beside them.

Kagome hid her face into him as flecks of rock raced towards her. Sesshomaru curled her into himself and shielded her with his back. Then, with unparalleled grace, Sesshomaru sheathed his sword, slipped an arm beneath her thighs and held her to him before sprinting through the opening to launch into the air. A soft mewl of protest sounded at her lips for the fear of height, but Kagome quickly silenced it.

Like a swarm of flies to a corpse, arrows blackened the sky above them. "Hold to me." he demanded. His blood-soaked fur moved to belt her to him even as his hand left her legs to brandish his blade. Tucking her face into his shoulder, Kagome shivered as energy expelled from him in waves to upset the arrows.

Suddenly the jewel sprang to life to rebuff his aura and pink energy sizzled between them. "Oh no!" Kagome breathed in horror as the daiyoukai winced, his trajectory upsetting. "I'm so sorry!" An annoyed huff sounded but Sesshomaru said nothing. Briefly he landed on the lip of the fortress wall, startling several soldiers before he launched into the air once more to finally escape.

Looking back to the fortress, a lone white horse rode from the walls in a futile pursuit and while Kagome couldn't see the face, she instinctively knew the person to be Lord Goro. "I'm surprised you didn't kill him." Kagome muttered softly as she leaned her cheek against Sesshomaru's shoulder.

The daiyoukai spared the war hungry nobleman a cold glance before sniffing arrogantly. "My objective was retrieval not revenge." he informed calcultively before glancing to her, his lone eye softening. "In that, I am successful."

At his words, Kagome's cheeks warmed and she simply nodded her chin in agreement. "Where are we going?" she asked softly. Of course, Sesshomaru said nothing, his attention forward. The patched farmlands and towns raced beneath them until a familiar forest came into view. Understanding struck her like a lightening to a tree, causing a blaze of panic within her. "The well? Sesshomaru, what're you doing?"

Even as they landed atop the shrine grounds, Kagome could hear the gong warbling in alarm and see the resident monks and priestesses rushing about to answer its call. "Are you stupid?" she barked. "We need to go somewhere safe!" Clawed fingers pinched her thigh and Kagome yipped in surprise.

"As you predicted, time's grace towards youkai wanes. I now see this truth." he informed, ignoring her protests. The ground found his feet and Sesshomaru marched into the wellhouse, seating her atop the lip of the well and steadying her with his hand to her back. "For this reason, I cannot bring you to where I must go."

"You can't just decide this on your own Sesshomaru!" she argued hotly. "I'm not going to leave-" The gentle caress of his lips against her own was enough to silence her. Startled, Kagome was rendered speechless, her eyes going wide before fluttering shut as he tenderly coaxed her into the blanketing warmth of his passion.

"Prepare to meet your end monster!" shouted a monk behind them.

Their lips parted and time slowed as Sesshomaru spun to face his new opponent and draw his blade, but not before nudging Kagome from the ledge and into the well with his shoulder. Falling head first Kagome reached out, screaming for him even as a blast of purifying energy engulfed the room.