Human Like Me
Here We Go Again
Inuyasha smelled the Well activating in the post-dawn light. Sitting up from his perch, Tetsusaiga cradled by his side in its scabbard, he leapt from the tree in front of the Well. A blast of energy slapped him in the face as it swirled and spiraled straight up into the sky in a flashy cylindrical shape. As the magic dissipated, two grunts sounded from the bottom of the shaft. Inuyasha peered inside, his eyes widening at the sight he saw.
Kagome, who was brushing off imaginary detritus from her sweater and jeans, with her long silvery mane tied up into a ponytail that revealed her elfish ears and displayed her demonic markings prominently, held Sesshoumaru by his hand. The taiyoukai in question looked astronomically out of place with his black tresses and shaded, arresting brown eyes.
The hanyou could smell Sesshoumaru's immediate disgust when his eyes glanced up at his younger brother. His eyes slanted back to Kagome.
"Hey, what're you staring at?" huffed the miko indignantly, releasing Sesshoumaru once he began to squirm.
"K-Ka...gome," breathed Inuyasha, comically wiping his eyes furiously, as if to diminish the illusion. "So it's true..."
"Yeah, doesn't mean you have the right to gawk at me."
Inuyasha's lips curled at the sound of her quip. "There's something wrong with you. I... just want to fix it." A light hue of pink spread across his nose and cheeks. Kagome could smell his embarrassment even from the bottom of the well.
I missed you, she thought. And your gruff affection.
Signaling Sesshoumaru, he obediently clung to her side as they climbed over the lip of the well and landed on the dewy grass. His hold loosened as he slipped away from her, something he probably wouldn't have done if Inuyasha hadn't been in the vicinity. Almost as if the taiyoukai had predicted, Inuyasha enveloped Kagome in a bone-crushing hug.
His lips skimmed her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "I missed you." He admitted, if not a little timidly.
She returned his hug, nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent that was too complex for her to distinguish. "I missed you, too."
Inuyasha took in everything he could about Kagome's altered appearance and physiology. She smelled completely different to him, like thunder clouds holding rain. She was almost a stranger to his eyes, barely resembling the modest, petite miko who'd been by his side for nearly five years. This wasn't quite the woman who shattered the Shikon no Tama, nor the one who had halted his procession into a blood-crazed youkai. She was Kagome, and yet... she wasn't.
With an awkward cough coming from the other side of the clearing, the miko and hanyou disengaged each other a little despondently. Kagome saw Sesshoumaru standing apathetically at the edge of the tree line, staring anywhere but at them. Bravely, in spite of his brother, Inuyasha wrapped his calloused fingers around Kagome's smooth hand.
The hanyou took a second to assess his half-brother as well. He took some small satisfaction in knowing that for once, probably never again in their entire life-span combined, Inuyasha held the most measure of youkai in his blood than his pure-bred brother. Sesshoumaru looked frail and vulnerable to him, something he could easily defeat now, despite his brother's centuries of conditioning and training, he would never come close to matching a youkai's strength.
Which led Inuyasha to remember that Kagome was inherently more powerful than him now, even before when she wielded the power of purification. He knew she'd never dole out her strength upon him intentionally, so the small revelation slipped his mind easily.
"Come on, they're all still sleeping." He told her. "Did you know that the Well had activated last night?"
Shocked by his unexpected question, her golden eyes cast a furtive glance toward Sesshoumaru. Luckily, Inuyasha did not witness this. "No; I felt it this morning, and we left in a hurry." The glare Sesshoumaru cast her way did not go unnoticed, and she flushed in result.
At the mention of the miko's white lie, the taiyoukai stilled his tongue, slightly flummoxed. Perhaps she possessed her own motives for telling his half-brother a false truth. He did not wish to elaborate on which the circumstances had presented themselves for them to return at the moment himself, so he allowed her to steer their explanation any way she so chose.
"How did you get back?" said Inuyasha. "Kikyou had a theory that the Jewel accompanied you guys into your era, and that you couldn't get back until you found it. You must have found it, right?"
She stopped, glancing anxiously toward the almost irascible inuyoukai. Why is he so upset? questioned the miko, coming to stand beside him. "Can I see the Jewel?" she questioned, hesitant, finding she was walking unsteadily on a thin rope.
Grunting, he produced the small jewel from his back pocket in a flourish and handed it to her. Kagome held it aloft for Inuyasha to inspect. "It's tainted," she said sourly. Inuyasha knew that it was due to the fact she could no longer purify it.
Inuyasha plucked the tainted sphere from her hands. It was unsettling how Kagome, the embodiment of purity, had managed to taint the Jewel with her touch. Unfortunately, it would have to be handed to Kikyou.
"A demon had possession of it, and used it to fight against us." Kagome hedged, omitting a better part of the story. Sesshoumaru noted the omission as well, but remained quiescent.
"This just gets weirder and weirder." He muttered, stowing the Jewel away in his haori as he led Kagome back toward the village.
The two chatted amicably together during the short journey back to the village. At some point Inuyasha had placed his arm across Kagome's small shoulders, pulling her closer to him, in an effort to wash away Sesshoumaru's scent. It boiled said taiyoukai's blood as a result. Inuyasha had no right to claim two females. It wasn't like Kagome belonged to him anyways; he was certain that she would not appreciate the tell-tale signs of possession and claim Inuyasha was freely displaying. It wasn't fair; she didn't know or understood the small signs he was passing at her, and surely he was riddled with the scent of the undead miko.
Sesshoumaru's inner rant went unnoticed by the couple. Kagome was just glad she was with her friends once more.
The village came into view, tinted by the early morning's light in a stunning view of the landscape raptured by nature's beauty. The small swell of land that they stood on served apt purpose for gazing high above the huts and farm lands. It took her breath away.
Shippou was the first to come bounding out of the hut adjacent to Kaede's. His nose twitched when he smelled Inuyasha, returning with two other unidentifiable scents which piqued the fox-kit's interest. Upon seeing his adopted mother for the first time in weeks, her scent betrayed her. He thought at first it to be the taiyoukai returning with Inuyasha.
Kagome's heart hammered within her chest when she spotted Shippou regarding her with puzzlement. Her arms opened wide, forthcoming to him, and soon recognition flashed across his cherubic face as he leapt into her arms. His soft keening broke her heart.
"Oh, Kagome, it is you! They said you had gotten his powers, but I thought they were lying." His small face nuzzled her neck. "You smell so different."
"I know, Shippou. I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back."
Seconds later Miroku emerged from the hut accompanied by his fiancee, Sango. Their eyes sparkled as they embraced their friend, murmuring conjoling assurances to her.
"It's so nice to see you again, Kagome," Miroku smiled and embraced the miko individually. "I hope you're still the same woman I asked to bare my child."
Flushing, but smiling broadly, she nodded her head. "I still feel the same. I just look, er, different is all."
"You're telling me." Kagome's soul sister hugged her hard. Sango reduced herself to a blubbering mess soon after, which was completely uncharacteristic of her. Kagome summed it up to pent up emotions. "I hope we can get you back to normal, but the Jewel..."
"Speaking of which," Kagome looked askance at the houshi. "Do you know where I found this?"
"I cannot imagine." His lips pursed in consternation.
"It was being held by a youkai. In all my years living in Tokyo, even with the emergence of my miko powers, have I ever detected a demon. But this must have followed me..." she trailed off, because she could smell clay, gravel, and purity heading their way.
The undead miko emerged from Kaede's hut, eyes penalizing her reincarnate with disgust. This went unnoticed by said reincarnation, who proffered the Jewel to the elder miko as she stepped into their intimate circle. Wordlessly, Kikyou accepted it, and it purified instantaneously in her grasp. A swell of disappointment slammed into Kagome.
"This was with a youkai?" Kikyou stated, quirking a delicate brow.
Kagome nodded her head. "I don't know how it got there, though. Maybe it found a youkai still living, and maybe was dormant?"
"The intricacies pertaining the Jewel are hard enough to understand as it is," offered the taijiya.
"Perhaps this will never be explained."
"Keh, what do you know?" Inuyasha growled at Sesshoumaru, who had been silent up until that point. "You never even wanted anything to do with the Jewel."
"Indeed, younger brother, I did not wish to associate myself with the likes of it. And now that I have see what it has amounted to?" As if by way of explanation he gestured to himself and Kagome.
"You're just angry because all of a sudden you're a weak little human,"
Sesshoumaru did not rise to Inuyasha jibe. "That would be misdirected anger. My issue lies with the Jewel."
Kagome nodded. "Yes, now that it has been returned to us, what will we do with it?" Miroku plucked the Jewel from Kikyou's hands, ignoring the simmering glare she sent to him.
"We needn't worry about this for now," he pocketed it, unsure if he trusted Kikyou. She did not argue his claim, however. "What we need to focus on now is how to get the two of you back to normal."
xXx
Whack!
"This is ridiculous!"
Whack!
"I shouldn't be this angry!"
Whack!
"I should rip his fucking head off right now, and that would fix the problem!"
Whack!
Inuyasha finally released his grip on Tetsusaiga as the great tree before him finally teetered and fell. The sound was almost deafening. Muttering choice epithets, the hanyou stiffly walked into the clearing and sat against the ancient bark of the Bone-Eaters Well, finding himself oddly malaise, sluggish. How had things gotten so out of hand? One moment he and his companions were hunting Naraku all across the country known as Japan, and now he was keeping his half-brother company, who happened to be a human, and Kagome a demon?
Rehashing the morning's events, he recalled Sesshoumaru telling them all how he had known Azara, and what he had done to her two centuries ago. Tch, he had thought, this woman needs a reality check.
How was he to correct this massive problem? Kagome had no plans to use the Jewel short of making the right wish. If they killed Azara, would that reverse the wish? Disdainfully, Inuyasha scowled. He highly doubted that possibility, merely because the Jewel's granted wishes were conniving, loaded with little loopholes, and it almost always never gave you the correct desired wish.
He supposed that, given she had not had a chance to complete her wish in the first place, circumstances would have been altered substantially. He wouldn't have to gaze upon Kagome's face, painted with intricate markings, her hair shock white, her eyes a calculating gold. What was more he wouldn't have to think about how utterly hapless Sesshoumaru had made himself by being mortal.
The wind picked up to just a slight breeze. He smelled something he thought he could not recognize, and then it clicked; Kagome was nearby.
Sitting up and perking his nose toward the air, he deduced she was nearby, hiding somewhere. From him? Somehow Inuyasha thought he would have ferretted her out by then if that had been the circumstance.
Swiftly, he moved through the trees in pursuit of her scent. Another scent accompanied her, almost just as unrecognizable as hers. Inuyasha took another delicate sniff, and remembered that it was Sesshoumaru's new smell. If he stuck to the bows of the trees, Kagome would not take notice of him, this much he was certain. However, it was still a mystery as to whether Sesshoumaru's knack for fishing out enemies really stemmed from his youkai abilities, or his instincts. Inuyasha supposed this would be a good opportunity to find out.
Taking to the trees, Inuyasha skillfully weaved through the branches, encroaching upon the two sequestered in their own private clearing, that looked as if Kagome had quickly sliced apart. She was holding an aged katana in her hands, per Sesshoumaru's instructions, attacking the tree in much the same manner Inuyasha had been not five minutes before.
A distant memory that was so segmented from his past resurfaced, one of his brother, slightly younger, while Inuyasha was merely a teen. He could remember finding his elder brother in the midst of a training session he himself directed. It had only been five years since the passing of Izayoi, so it was a wonder Inuyasha had survived at all without her. Although young and impressionable, Inuyasha had always known his brother held an immense dislike toward his person, and yet, Inuyasha was allowed privy to this event. Sesshoumaru never broke his rhythm, repeatedly hacking, again and again, on the tree's wide trunk.
"Brother?" intoned Inuyasha. His guileless golden eyes met his brother's.
"My name is Sesshoumaru." The elder brother turned slightly, enough to penalize Inuyasha. "What are you disturbing me for?"
"I don't understand."
"Explain."
"You're... strong. Why aren't you cutting this tree down with your powers?"
Feigning exasperation, Sesshoumaru slowly lowered his sword, staring down the length of his nose at his younger, weaker, insignificant half-brother. "It is the method of which I attain my strength that matters to me the most."
"Huh?"
It took every ounce of self-preservation to keep himself from rolling his eyes. "I needn't use my powers to chop this tree down. I am able to do this, regardless."
Inuyasha's little mouth pursed, brows drawn in consternation. "But that would take longer, won't it? And it'll be harder, won't it?"
"Yes, it will." Sesshoumaru gestured for Inuyasha to sit. He sat down, too, although felt oddly reserved. "The reason for this is simple enough. There may come a day that I shall not be able to use my powers to aid me in a difficult situation. Therefore, I must strengthen my body in other ways to ensure that my power is available always."
Inuyasha was old enough to understand the litany of his older brother's powers, though this simple revelation was lost to him at the time.
Now, however, Inuyasha witnessed as Kagome emulated one of the only things Sesshoumaru ever taught him. What was worse, Inuyasha had been unconsciously channeling this method of consolement prior to this. It had helped release pent-up emotions, granting him temporary peace of mind.
Kagome, however, looked out of sorts rather than explosively angry. Her stance was uneven, her attacks unclean and sluggish, and overall she just looked... stressed. Inuyasha was thankful he was downwind, as he caught a whiff of her infuriatingly unfamiliar scent, detecting frustration and weariness.
"No. Again." Sesshoumaru said, indicating her faults. "If you swing over your head, put your hips into play and lunge forward slightly. Using just your shoulders to administer the attack will not place as much strength behind it, as it will also hinder your endurance."
Kagome said nothing, eyeing the accused tree with a hint of anger as she repeated her instruction over once more. "Better," he encouraged. She repeated this process over, until she delivered an attack that cut away a large knotch from the bark. It flew up into the air behind her, nearly severing Inuyasha's head up in the trees. He was thankful that he had not given away his position. "Again,"
"You seem... disgruntled," observed the taiyoukai after a moment.
"Oh, you noticed that?" Whack!
A pause, then: "Is there something that I need to know?"
Whack! She was getting closer to successfully taking down the massive tree.
"Not really."
"Why do you roll your eyes as you say this?"
Kagome felt like turning her blade in his direction and let Fate take its course. She thought better of it. "I was being sarcastic."
"Was there such a need to fool me?" Sesshoumaru inquired tonelessly.
Kagome could not believe the extent of his emotional stump. "No, I don't suppose there was."
Sesshoumaru felt like he had missed something.
With a colossal crack! the tree before her had finally given its last ounce of strength and collapsed before them. Kagome felt a bit lighter now. "Look, I'm sorry. I've been... stressed lately."
"I did not notice."
Kagome almost missed his own version of sarcasm; the slight lilt of his lips gave it all away. "Hey, you're not allowed to make jokes." She scolded.
"And why not?"
"Because you just can't."
He canted his head, appearing to be lost in thought. "Very well. No more jokes."
"That's better."
"Now continue. There is a promising young sapling over there."
Inuyasha left then, stymied by the easy banter Kagome shared with his half-brother, that he himself never possessed.
xXx
That night, when everyone had bedded down two hours after the sun had set, Kagome was finally returning with Sesshoumaru after another grueling day of training. He insisted with much vigor that she needed to be prepared at all times now that they were back into their era that danger lurked everywhere, and it often sought powerful youkai.
She practically dragged her exhausted body back to the hut. The fire was dwindling, and required more wood, but at the moment she could not find the strength to stand back up. As if the taiyoukai had read her thoughts, he emerged into the hut with an armful of kindling. He gently stoked the embers back into life and fed it fire.
"You did well today."
Kagome had been dozing, so his words startled her awake. She almost thought she'd heard wrong. "I said no more jokes," she muttered.
"I was not joking." He looked at her seriously. She felt her breath catch in her throat. It was unfair; how he could look so ethereal, so god-like, while telling her that she had honestly did well for a change stirred a crazy thought in her mind she wished not to entertain.
"Oh. Thank you."
They lapsed back into silence, and though it was not uncomfortable, she felt the urge to fill it with something to talk about. Their friends were deeply asleep. They wouldn't overhear anything they might end up saying.
"Is it that difficult?" her soft voice broke through the easy silence. Sesshoumaru had taken up post beside the door, staring outside past the land to something more.
"Is what difficult?"
Kagome shifted in the darkness. He heard her utter a nervous cough. What could be troubling her now?
"Is... being human so difficult for you? I mean, it must-you hate us, and all."
He sighed. Oh, so it was that question. Honestly, he was truly surprised it had taken her so long to inquiry about his state of duress, not that he had given away any sort of unease throughout their whole adventure. She truly was full of surprises. Would he truly divulge his thoughts to her? Could he even?
"It has been the most difficult thing to happen in my entire existence."
His admission took her completely by shock. Did he actually just confide in her? She'd have to mark this on her calender when she returned home.
"Really?" she asked, intrigued. Maybe he was feeling particularly chatty tonight? "I mean, it's not like you ever let on."
"Did you believe that I truly wished for anyone to realize just how hard this transition has been?"
Her face fell. "No, I guess not." For a second, she reconsidered. "You're being serious, aren't you?"
"I have promised not to tell any jokes," he reminded her, almost wistfully.
"I have questions for you as well." He stoked the fire again, merely an attempt to divert her attention from himself. It was becoming quite cumbersome to ignore her steady gazes.
"That's fair,"
"Indeed." He fought to keep from looking at her. "Why did you give your friends a false truth?"
She stilled, recounting the times when she had conversed with her friends. It should have been simple, since she spent the entire day with Sesshoumaru out in the middle of the woods, training relentlessly. She could count how many sentences she'd spoken to her friends. But what was he talking about?
Sesshoumaru decided to fill her in. "You did not mention where we were, or what we were doing, when you relayed to them the instances we were attacked by the youkai. Who were, indeed, still alive." She was recipient of his pointed look.
"Oh, that..." she twiddled her thumbs, wishing he had never asked her that. It wasn't as if it was a big deal. No, it was nothing like that. It was just... "I'm not sure why I withheld that," she admitted after a long, thoughtful moment. "I guess I just felt like it didn't need to be shared."
"What would have been the result if you had actually told them?"
"I don't know." Kagome sighed, leaning against the wall, enjoying the little warmth that seeped into her legs as the fire began to blaze once more.
Sesshoumaru, too, was reaping the benefits from the fire, concentrating solely on it. He knew that if he were to look up he would be victim to her sullen face. For some reason he did not want that. "Is there a reason why you felt as though this tidbit needed to be kept a secret?"
A small smile splayed on her lips. "Maybe," she teased. "I'd have to kill them if they ever found out, though."
"Are you joking with me, Kagome?" he asked imploringly.
"I believe that I am, Sesshoumaru." She returned. The smile on her face was evident in her voice.
"Will you tell me?" he questioned, feeling as if this matter was important to him, that he absolutely needed to know her reasonings. Why couldn't human emotions remain black and white, just like a youkai's? It was a tiresome battle to keep them in check.
"I might, eventually." She said, sighing, sinking deeper into relaxation.
Sesshoumaru blinked, flummoxed. "You might?" he asked.
"Yup."
He paused. "You will ignore the fact that I have revealed something that is taboo for myself?"
"Yes," she smiled again, bright and warm and full of mischief. It almost stole his breath. "I might tell you, though, if you do something for me."
"What?"
"Switch places with me."
Sesshoumaru was not granted the opportunity to reply; she had already risen onto her feet and made her way across the mound of bodies. She gazed down at him, still wearing a smile. "It's warmer by the fire."
He was about to rebuke, but she held up a solitary finger over her pouty lips. "It's dark, everyone's asleep, so they won't need to know."
Slowly, Sesshoumaru stood, his shoulder nearly brushing hers as they swapped places. He felt his heart hammer within his chest, his pulse spike, at the proximity they had shared. Why was that? What were these human emotions trying to tell him that he couldn't quite discern?
As she situated herself by the door, Sesshoumaru took the chance to study her. What was so alluring about her anyways, other than the fact that she looked like a goddess, with her silver hair draping across her slight shoulders, smooth, creamy skin, flawless, unblemished face? Even before she had looked like a great and mighty taiyoukai her beauty hardly went unnoticed by all who crossed her. So now Sesshoumaru found himself falling victim, not taken prisoner, by this miko who had warranted his attention. And she had been so helpless before, too. It had been obvious from their first training session that no one had ever made the time to help teach her to defend herself. What would she do once human again? Would she abandon all of her lessons? Secretly he hoped that she would still wish for him to train her, just to keep her company longer.
Kagome found him staring at her, spaced out. It sort of put her at unease, but he snapped out of whatever state he was in shortly after. "Thank you," she said to him.
"Would you be interested in fashioning your own weapon?" he responded in kind, once again startling her. What was with him so suddenly?
"Huh?" she said intelligently, before finding her tongue. "You mean, like a sword?"
"If that is what you so choose, then yes, a sword."
"But... how? Why?"
Sesshoumaru's lips quirked slightly. "Totousai is a master swordsmith." Then he added, softly, quietly, "So you can protect yourself when you return to being mortal."
Something hot and stifling swelled beneath her breast. Was he... concerned for her? No, that couldn't be. Yet here he was, offering to give her a form of protection that emulated the two brothers. Should she? There wasn't much of a debate; of course she should.
"I would like that," she murmured in the darkness, finding that sleep pervaded her thoughts and made her eyelids heavier.
"I shall contact Totousai, and he will create your own weapon for protection." He noted that she had already dropped off. Perhaps he would have to find another way to find out her reason for lying to her friends some other time.
xXx
As the morning broke through the billowy clouds Kagome roused, taking inventory of her friends to find that one was missing. Sesshoumaru's scent lingered beside the door where he had slept, though it was slightly stale. He must have left a few hours before dawn. She quietly left the hut and relieved herself, searching through her yellow backpack for her ablutions kit to brush her teeth and comb through her hair.
As she finished her morning rituals she caught sight of a distant object propelling itself through the air straight toward the village. She did not detect any malacious intent, though the object looked vaguely familiar. From a closer inspection she saw the three eyed cow Totousai owned, along with the aged youkai himself. Sesshoumaru sat pillion behind him, looking cool and implacable as always.
Totousai came to a turbulent halt. "Morning," Kagome called.
Sesshoumaru offered her a curt nod. "Good morning."
"Ah ha! So it is true! This young woman really managed to house-break you after all!" Totousai leapt out of the way of Sesshoumaru's fist. He came nose to nose with Kagome, eyeing her speculatively, taking in her altered appearance. "Hmm. And here I thought he was lying when he said you stole his powers." Mused the old youkai.
"Uh, um," Kagome stammered, "I didn't really steal it."
"Well, whatever the case may be, I am amused." He cast a look over his shoulder at the smoldering taiyoukai, paying no heed to the threat exuding off of him. "I have been told you wish for me to fashion you a blade."
"Oh, yes, Master Totousai!"
"Then you're in luck! I just so happen to be taking requests."
"I believe you refused me not a year ago," intoned the taiyoukai, unamused.
Totousai merely scratched his balding head in thought. "Hmm, well that was then, and this is now. Don't be so dense, Sesshoumaru." From his pocket he produced a large pair of tweezers. He held them up in front of his face menacingly. Kagome felt her inside churn. "Now, I just need a good one. Open your mouth."
Kagome had flash backs of her dentist. "Say 'aw'?"
"Sure, whatever works." He gave an unmerciful tug.
"Ahhhh!"
xXx
So it was a week before Totousai returned with Kagome's crafted sword, unique to her, a piece of her. He arrived on his three-eyed demon cow, cradling her new sword to his side. Even from quite a distance, the pulse of the blade's youki-her youki-was apparent to her and all of her companions.
She plucked it gratefully from his wasted hand, noting that the power she had infused within its shiny, flawless blade swirled around her and almost seemed to embrace her. Is this what it felt like to hold something in your hands just as powerful as you? Kagome didn't think she could ever find a comparison to describe the sensation.
Experimentally, she took a swing, careful to mind her friends which flanked her side. A slight pulse of youki slithered up the length of the sword and peaked at the tip, before it violently exploded outwards into the form of a red dragon. The blast sizzled the air and obliterated the woods she had directed her aim toward. Everyone stood in awe of the extensive damage, and of what power Kagome wielded.
"That was... so cool!" Kagome gushed, clinging the sword to her bosom despite the sharp bite of the blade. Sesshoumaru sidled beside her, hand outstretched. She gently placed her weapon into his palm, aware that her energy took nips at his skin that he ignored convincingly. He gave it a few of his own experimental jabs and thrusts and swipes before handing it back to her, deeming it appropriate.
Inuyasha asked for a try at it as well. The energy rejected him a little more profoundly than his brother, but he, too, shrugged it off. "This is really nice," he complimented after finishing his small exhibition. "But I have to ask... what will you do when you're human again?"
The thought tugged at her heartstrings. He made it sound as if there was no questing the outcome. She would be human again, and though it wasn't as if she was excited over the prospect, it was becoming apparent that she was attached to her new blade quite fondly. Would it reject her human self? Refuse her the right to wield it, youki infused powers or not? Kagome could not give him a proper answer.
"I don't know," she admitted softly.
"Oh, hey, I'm sorry." Inuyasha clasped her shoulder comfortingly. "I don't mean to upset you, Kagome. Though I don't know why you decided to get a sword made for you that you might not be able to use in the future."
"I know, Inuyasha," Kagome returned his small gesture of affection by squeezing his arm. "I'll figure something out."
Kikyou wedged herself in between the two not so inconspicuously, emitting a laugh that was hollow, cathartic. "A miko of your status should not be engaging in battle."
"In case you haven't noticed," Kagome ran her fingers up the length of the blade, mindful that the sides were smoothed and sharpened to perfection. She bet that a leaf would split in half with little effort. "I'm not a miko anymore." She smiled, revealing her canines and exposing her amber eyes. Kikyou appeared unaffected, but Kagome could smell her distrust. Miroku plucked the sword from Kagome's claws.
"Say, Totousai," intoned the houshi, who himself was fondling the sword, "what did you call this?"
The old man appeared to be struck dubious for a moment, before a look of pride swept his face. "I call it, Ryuunosuke."
xXx
Her body was pensive, ready; Sesshoumaru stood quarter of a mile away, bracing himself against the turbulent, eddying winds that Kagome's youki stirred up. He stood holding Tetsusaiga within his hand, per request of Kagome to Inuyasha, who had taken a considerable amount of convincing that his brother was not going to steal away with it. More than anything it was a safety measure; should her blade reveal its true power before Sesshoumaru they needed a foolhardy plan to keep him relatively safe. As a result Tenseiga was sheathed at his side, creating that extra protection.
Two days had passed since she had been able to unleash her blade's full potential. Sesshoumaru had warned her that it sometimes took years to fully master and wield one's own blade, but Kagome was not having any of it. If Inuyasha could achieve this through stroke of mere luck, then she was going to succeed as well.
"You wouldn't mind if I poisoned my own eyes, would you?" Kagome shouted, and Sesshoumaru, thankfully, detecting humour in her request.
"Yes, I would mind. Why would you do such a thing?" he called back.
Kagome barked out a laugh. "If Inyuasha had to be blind to see his Wind Scar, then maybe this will be the same."
From the distance Kagome heard Sesshoumaru chuckle, a sound not familiar to her ears, though she decided that it was something she wished to repeat in the future. "Just focus on your energy and when your sword demands to unleash it." Was his parting words before rushing her.
Her youkai eyesight enhancing her ability to view the world in startling clarity and sometimes frightening slow motion, Kagome could almost predict the course of his movements as his body neared hers, angled to strike at her left leg. She parried the blow that ended up curving to meet her midsection, but barely; it took a measure of strength to disengage his attack once he had struck through fully.
And there it was, she could see some sort of billowy mass swirling around Ryuunosuke, tinged with fiery red sparks of youki. Was this her ultimate attack?
Sesshoumaru spied the miko steadily inspecting her weapon, secretly pleased than she was finally starting to see. He had to give her some credit, for it only took her two days to see, whereas some youkai went years without ever seeing it.
This is it, Kagome thought, confident, and Ryuunosuke sang to her a tune which drew warmth and reassurance within her.
Sessshoumaru, hoping that the two blades would be powerful enough to block the attack, came at her again. His steps felt sluggish, forceful; he realized he was entering a condensed mass of energy which shrouded Kagome in a corona of youki. Her hands gripped the sword as she held it aloft, above her head. In an instant the connection was made-Ryuunosuke accepted her, and with the swing shot out a colossal mass of youki in the form of a red, bearded dragon. It propelled itself toward Sesshoumaru, spiraling and twisting and roaring.
Tenseiga was the first to react, then Tetsusaiga did in turn, shrouding Sesshoumaru's vulnerable body in their own energies and protecting him from the brunt of the attack. As soon as the energy began to dissipate, Kagome hurried to him, dispelling her harsh youki from his person before approaching him. He looked a little burnt and weary, but overall he was fine.
"I did it," she whispered, disbelieving, yet excited all at once.
Sesshoumaru nodded, brandishing Tetsusaiga, grateful it had decided to protect him. "You did." He affirmed. There was a note of pride in his voice.
"You're not hurt, are you?" her hand ran down the length of his arm almost on its own. She convinced herself it was just to be sure he was all right.
Sesshoumaru studied the hand that was running up and down his arm. Oddly, and almost sadly, he did not mind her ministrations as much as he should have. "I am fine."
Kagome smiled. He noted it did not reach her eyes. "You're burnt to a crisp," she laughed, "how are you fine?"
"I have experienced worst." And almost as if by way of answer, her finger traced the outline of where his left arm should be. She felt the stump, daring for him to stop her. It felt odd, as her finger traced the soft sinews of muscle beneath the fine cloth. Kagome did not breathe; she felt that if she did, this illusion they created for themselves would burst. She didn't want to get rid of this.
Her ministrations finally ceased; there was an empty feeling within his chest that was peculiar and foreign. Kagome took a small step back, not meeting his gaze. Little did she know he wished for her to stare back. Sesshoumaru was unsure of what would happen if she had continued to stroke him like that, though he was certain it would be something they would have ended up regretting.
"Thank you." Murmured the miko distractedly.
"What for?"
"For training me,"
Sesshoumaru softly scoffed. "That was no trouble."
Kagome bit her lip. "I want to ask something of you." She danced back and forth from foot to foot, not looking at him, though he so wanted her to.
"Yes?" he felt as if he'd do anything for her.
"Would you take care of Ryuunosuke, once I am human?" She proffered the sword to him, to test if it would reject him. When his hand touched the hilt of it he was surprised that its energy did not reject him; rather, it seemed to accept him, warming his hand and curling up the length of his arm.
"It seems as if it does not reject me." He mused.
Kagome looked relieved. What was worse, Sesshoumaru understood the implications of this simple transgression. A sword would only accept another if the energy it belonged to had no prior qualms to that person, so it was evident that Kagome held no ill-will toward his person, otherwise he would have been fried on the spot. He had, indeed, ventured on a hunch when he accepted the blade. If Kagome had not been comfortable with him, he would have died, and yet he had trusted her to feel differently. Why was that?
Kagome sighed. "That's good," she breathed, giving him a stunning smile. "I guess I like you after all."
Sesshoumaru felt like his heart imploded.
xXx
Kikyou fondled the Jewel between her hands absently, watching as Inuyasha and Kagome talked animatedly from the hill, wondering what they were conversing about. Miroku had finally gave her possession of the Jewel, though it was hers by right anyway, the day that her reincarnation had tapped into her custom fashioned sword. It glowed brightly within her palm, warming her hand, beckoning for something, something to wish upon it.
Why? Kikyou asked herself distractedly. Why was it calling for Kagome, the miko turned taiyoukai? She was corrupt, but not selfish; she wouldn't give in and make a rash, selfish decision, Kikyou knew as much. So why was it demanding for her to make a wish?
The elder miko rose from the ground and started back for the hut, sensing a sinister aura tainting the skies. Was it the demoness from before? Did she finally figure out that the Jewel was now in their time period? Kikyou could only watch and wait.
xXx
They had bedded down. Each one of her friends were sound asleep, the only sound was the cicadas outside of the hut chirping in the moonlight. Kagome shifted onto her side, spying the taiyoukai who was not slumbering. He took a breath, signaling he was about to speak, and she listened intently.
"Will you be prepared?"
The question caught her off guard. "I guess I will... I mean, it's not like she'll announce when she's about to attack us, right?"
"I suppose she will not."
"I won't have to kill her, will I?"
"You are the only one capable of killing her out of us all. Of course you will."
She frowned in the darkness. "I don't like this... I mean, I've never killed anyone before."
"Nonsense, you have slain hundreds of demons with your arrows."
"Maybe not hundreds, but yes, those were with my arrows, not with my own two hands."
"There is no difference,"
"Yes, I think there is; my arrows were an extension of my body, I didn't actually kill them."
"Hnn."
"No, not hnn. Do you truly think that there's no difference?"
"I believe that if your intentions were present to kill, then technically you did kill. Extension of body, or not."
"Do you know where you left Rin?" Kagome decided to steer the course elsewhere, suddenly curious about the orphaned girl.
"I do, if Jaken has not moved her."
"Do you think we should look for her tomorrow?"
"Hnn. If you so wish,"
"She's your child. Don't you want to find her?"
"Yes. Very well, we shall search tomorrow."
They lapsed into silence. Kagome was regretting ever thinking of asking him the question that had been plaguing her mind, until-
"Sesshoumaru."
"Yes."
Their eyes met in the dark, though his gaze was slightly off, since he could not see her clearly. Kagome hesitated, finding that her mouth was parched, her tongue like sandpaper.
"Do you think there's more..." she trailed off.
"More, what?"
"More to..." she struggled for the right words. "More to... us? This?"
The question in itself was vague, though Sesshoumaru held an inkling of an idea as to what he was talking about. Where was she going with this, anyways? What did she need to know?
"I do not fully understand your question." He said instead, hoping she would supply him with more information to work on.
"Well..." Kagome nibbled on her lower lip. "Like what happened the other day, when we were training... what was that? I don't even think I know." She realized she was on the verge of ranting.
The memory surfaced of the intimacy they had shared, brief but charged with energy that Kagome could feel even then. Unsure as to how the taiyoukai had reacted to their episode, it had been dwelling on her mind to ask him. Now that she had actually done so, her face and neck were flushed in embarrassed.
Sesshoumaru contemplated his next directive. He had told her he would no longer tell jokes, so would he opt for telling the truth? To be honest he wasn't sure if he even knew the truth.
"I do not know," he told her honestly, pleased that she seemed to be settling the matter for the night. She drifted off to sleep, and soon he followed her.
xXx
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Why can't Rin see you yet?"
The blindfold secured tightly across the young girl's face, Rin raised her hands out in a plaintive search for her adoptive father. "This will be a bit weird, Rin, but trust me, it's still the same Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome intoned softly beside the girl, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"What do you mean, Kagome-san?"
"Well, Sesshoumaru-sama won't look like himself, but he's still Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Oh." Said the girl despondently. "He's still the same though, right?" Rin confirmed.
"Yes, Rin."
"Good!" she chirped. "Though Rin would like Sesshoumaru-sama even if he was hurt, or looked funny."
Kagome couldn't help the sudden tug on her heart; this little girl was so concerned for her father figure's well being that it physically hurt. Sesshoumaru remained enigmatic throughout the little girls' declaration. Though upon closer inspection Kagome could see the indication of a small, ghost-like smile on his lips. Perhaps the taiyoukai possessed a heart, after all.
"Can I look now, please, please? Rin is really impatient."
"All right, open your eyes."
Rin's hands ripped away the tattered piece of cloth and searched for her protector only a second before finally finding him. Her eyes betrayed her puzzlement, though this only lasted a nanosecond before she launched herself at him, clinging to his thighs, pressing her nose into his pants.
"Rin wasn't worried, Sesshoumaru-sama. She knew you would return." Rin continued to hug him tightly, seemingly unaffected by the duration of which they had been separated. Kagome knew better, however. Rin was just concealing the melancholy and fright she had been experiencing since Sesshoumaru's absence, who they had found out through his retainer, Jaken. It broke the young miko's heart to know this, that she was partly to blame for taking away the little girl's protector. Seeing them unite now sort of made up for all of that; Sesshoumaru eventually caved and lowered himself to Rin's level, resting his hand on top of her head, smoothing the wayward tresses back consolingly.
Kagome backed away from the two, feeling like an intruder to their private reunion. She was happy that they had managed to locate Rin, and even more exalted that the little one did not seem perturbed at all by her lord's appearance. Before Kagome departed she was privy to a glimpse of Rin plucking flowers from a nearby bush, holding them up for Sesshoumaru's approval. He agreed to each she had gathered, and then Rin set about plaiting them within his hair for her amusement.
Slowly returning back to her companions behind the swell of forest, Kagome smiled at the sound of Rin's cheerful laughing, and at the small, almost carefree chuckles Sesshoumaru accompanied her with.
xXx
Shippou idly nibbled on the treat Kagome had brought for him back from her time. He sat in a ring around the fire, cooking a spit of fresh trout, with only Inuyasha and Miroku. Sesshoumaru was no where to be found, but the women were bathing in the hot springs behind the brush, their chatter echoing back to them.
"She sure spends a lot of time with him," commented the fox-kit sagely. He took a chomp of the candy.
Miroku sighed to Shippou's observation, knowing all too well the possessiveness youkai held toward what was figuratively 'theirs.' "Yes, I am aware of this." He replied smoothly.
Inuyasha scoffed and took a massive bite out of the skewered fish. Once he swallowed the rest, he turned his amber eyes to his houshi friend. "Yeah, I noticed, too. Why the hell would they want to spend so much time around each other, anyway?" as he asked this the image of the two training out in the woods returned. The hanyou fought to keep the emotions from his face.
"It may be in result to the fact that the two have been forced into an unlikely circumstance. It does bring the most unlikely of people together." Opined Miroku sagely.
"Keh. I wouldn't want to hang out with him."
"Me neither,"
Miroku sighed. His friends could be so... nearsighted sometimes. Though he supposed that was the consequence of having simple youkai instincts as opposed as the kaleidoscope of emotions humans suffered through. "Yes, well that's all good, but they might share a special bond."
"Kagome has a special bond with me!" indignantly barked Inuyasha.
"And me!" growled Shippou.
The houshi tried not to sigh. "Yes, both of you have your own respective bonds with Kagome. But the one she shares with Sesshoumaru is certainly a lot different than with the two of you."
"Oh yeah?" griped Inuyasha. "How so?"
"Well, for instance, they are bonded through the simple fact that they have swapped powers. And," Miroku broke off, finding the right way to phrase it. "And, it sort of appears that they're fond of each other."
"I'm fond of Kagome."
"Me, too!"
Miroku resisted the urge to swat them both over the head with his staff. "Yes, I know." It was pointless. The two would never see it until it was right in front of them.
xXx
She arrived so suddenly in the middle of their supper that neither knew what to do at first. Inuyasha sprang to his feet and bared his teeth as usual, while Sango quickly changed into her fighting garments and Miroku prepared his sutras.
Kagome was riddled with unease; Ryuunosuke at her side thrummed in tandem to her heart. She exchanged a brief look with Sesshoumaru, who looked at her with understanding. She stood on her feet and faced the direction in which the sinister youki came from, at Inuyasha's side as a fighting companion, instead of being someone to protect.
Azara broke through the forest while swinging her giant axe within the air, her eyes burning with hate as she met Kagome's steady gaze. With little preamble, Azara lounged.