Disclaimer: I met Sesshoumaru in a bar, and he gave me all the rights to InuYasha. But then Rumiko Takahashi came in and took them away. Then she dragged Sesshoumaru out with her.

DEALING WITH TRAUMA

Kagome was running in Tokyo Conservational Park again. This time though, it wasn't to stay in shape. It was an escape from the suffering she knew she would have to deal with later. Muso, Naraku's sixth incarnation, had terrorized her on her last trip. She had been terrified when he had attempted to kidnap her. She'd spent the last week having nightmares about being taken by the remnants of Onigumo, and InuYasha had finally allowed her to come home to try and recover a bit. But so far, the change in scenery had done little to help. She still had nightmares that made her wake up screaming. The only thing that cured her was when she ran until she was too exhausted to dream.

Off in her own little world, Kagome failed to notice the tree root until it was too late. With a cry, she began to fall. She shut her eyes and prepared to hit the ground. But after a few seconds, there was still no impact. Kagome slowly opened her eyes, and she realized with a start that not only had the ground stopped rushing towards her, but she could now feel a rather strong arm around her. "Are you alright?"

Kagome knew that voice, she was sure of it. Once she had her feet under her again, she turned to see if she could match a name to the face. She froze in shock when she saw her rescuer. "Sesshoumaru!"

A single eyebrow raised, and the man shook his head. "I'm sorry. My name is Kin."

Kagome blushed. Now that she was really looking, she saw that her initial assumption was wrong. For one, the man in front of her was obviously older, possibly in his eighties. And for another, the blatantly obvious characteristics of Sesshoumaru, such as his gold eyes and the markings on his face, were missing from this man's face. There were wrinkles on his face, and his hair was duller than Sesshoumaru's, more white than silver. As the man released her, she saw that his hands were normal, without the claws that Sesshoumaru so proudly displayed.

"I'm terribly sorry." Kagome cried, stepping back so that she could bow in gratitude. "You just look like someone I know, and I was startled."

The elderly man nodded. "That is rather understandable. But you did not answer my question." Kagome stared at him blankly, and the elderly gentleman shook his head. "Are you alright, miss?"

"Oh, yes I'm fine." Kagome answered quickly. "I'm very lucky that you caught me." Though now that she thought about it, how had the elderly man been able to support her weight? It was all rather strange.

"Kin!" Kagome turned to see an elderly woman running up the path. "Kin, what's your rush?"

Kagome's eyes widened. "You're the woman from that day in the park!"

The older woman's eyes widened. "Oh my! Isn't this a coincidence?" She chuckled softly. "Kagome, this is my husband, Kin. Kin, this is the lovely young woman I told you about."

Kin nodded to her, earning him an indulgent smile from his wife. Kagome bit her lip, then just decided to ask. "I'm sorry, but how do you know my name?"

The elderly woman looked at her, then her eyes widened again. "Oh, I'm horribly sorry. It's just that I go to the shrine your family owns, and I heard them call you Kagome. I guess I forgot you never introduced yourself to me."

Kagome smiled. "It's alright. It just worried me for a moment."

The woman smiled back. "Now, am I wrong, or did I forget to tell you my name?"

Kin shook his head. "No, you did not."

The older woman shook her head. "I guess my memory is going. Time was, I'd do that immediately." The elderly woman bowed to Kagome. "My name is Ao."

Gold and Blue. Kagome thought to herself. How strange. "Well, now I guess I can call you something other than 'that lady.'"

The two women laughed, receiving a small sigh from the man beside them. "Well, since we're here like this, why don't we grab a bite to eat? It will be our treat." Ao announced.

"Oh, I couldn't let you do that." Kagome protested.

"Well, if you won't let us get you a meal, then how about some ice cream?" Ao asked. "I insist. You're young, so you can use your money for more important things." She looped her arm through her husband's. "Don't you think so, Kin?"

Kagome could swear that Kin wanted to strangle the woman beside him, but he only nodded imperceptibly. "Wonderful!" Ao announced. "You know, there's this wonderful vendor just a few meters ahead. Why don't we race there?"

Kagome looked at the elderly couple. They have to be at least eighty years old, and they're going to race? There is something wrong with these two.

"Ao, I would not suggest it." Kin interrupted, more forcefully grabbing his wife's arm. "You have already run ten laps. You will walk the rest of the way."

Ao glared at him. "You act like I'm a fragile daisy." She muttered. But she still sighed and nodded. "Fine. We can talk along the way."

Kagome was a bit relieved at this. She didn't want to be the reason the elderly woman had a heart attack! She fell in step with the couple, and watched as their hands looped together. It seemed to her that Kin's hard face softened a bit, and Ao's smile grew just a bit brighter. Kagome couldn't help but feel envious of the obvious love the two had for another.

Ao soon had Kagome involved in the conversation, mostly comprised of teasing Kin into saying something. Kagome couldn't help but notice how his behavior seemed so similar to Sesshoumaru's. And just like Sesshoumaru, Kin was missing his left arm. Perhaps he was a descendant? Or maybe a reincarnation? Kagome shrugged off the thought as Kin released Ao's hand so that he could grab Ao's other hand, which had begun to poke him. Kagome soon joined in with Ao, and the two of them continued until they reached the ice cream stand.

Ao collapsed on the bench. "Kin, dear, would you please get us the ice cream?"

Kagome could swear that Kin would turn her down, but he just nodded. "What would you like, Kagome?"

"Chocolate, please." Ao and Kagome said at the same time. They looked at each other, then giggled. "I guess two chocolate cones, please." Kagome finished.

Kin nodded, then started to walk away. Kagome went to sit beside Ao, and saw that she was biting her thumbnail nervously. "What's wrong, Ao?" Kagome asked.

"He had that look in his eyes." Ao answered. "The 'you'll be sorry' look. I think I'm in trouble."

Kagome giggled. She just couldn't help it. Ao was the kind of old person she wanted to be when she grew old. Ao smiled at her, as if she knew what she was thinking, then cocked her head. "So, dear. Why don't you tell me what's troubling you?"

Kagome jumped and stared over at Ao. "There's— What – I mean, I don't know what you mean." Kagome stuttered.

Ao cocked her head and studied the younger woman carefully. She raised a hand and gently cupped Kagome's face, a thumb carefully rubbing beneath one of her eyes. "You haven't been sleeping well, have you?"

Kagome met the older woman's eyes, and she felt as if she knew this woman. Though a part of her was saying she could trust this old woman, she just couldn't bring herself to say. With sigh, Kagome leaned back. "No, I haven't." She whispered.

Ao removed the hand from Kagome's face and placed it over her hand. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Kagome thought about it, then shook her head. It was just too complicated to explain to someone who wasn't in the know. "It's hard to explain."

Ao nodded, and Kagome saw an understanding in her eyes. "Then I'll just ramble uselessly, and you can pull from it what you will." Ao answered.

Kagome prepared herself for some lecture on getting proper sleep, but when Ao spoke, this idea was almost torn from her head.

"I was once kidnapped."

Kagome shot up, searching Ao's eyes. She was most definitely speaking the truth. "Some man saw me, and mistook me for someone he had once loved. So when he saw me, he thought I was her. When I told him I didn't know him, he became angry and kidnapped me.

"I was rescued rather quickly. The man only had me for a few minutes at the most." Ao looked down at her hands, as if seeing in them what had once happened. "But I had never been so scared in my life. Even when I was saved, I kept seeing the man in my dreams. I never told anyone about what had happened, because I was scared of the repercussions. Only those who had helped me knew, and they weren't too concerned with tracking the man down. I was so terrified that he would come back to take me again. It got so bad that eventually, I could barely function. The only way out that I could see was to drive myself to the point of exhaustion so that I was too tired to dream."

Kagome felt her heartbeat quicken. It was eerie how similar their situations were. Only Ao's assailant had been human. Hers couldn't die.

"Several weeks later, I was a complete wreck. Between the dreams and my fear, I was useless." Kagome was surprised when Ao smiled slightly. "Then one day, I met a man. I knew him in passing, but had never really spoken to him all too much. He saw that I was troubled, and asked me what was wrong. For some reason that I still don't understand, I spilled my guts. I told him everything that had happened." Ao paused, then quickly continued. "Of course, I immediately apologized to him for ranting at him. After all, it wasn't his problem to deal with, and I was sure that he was rather disgusted that I had burdened him with my problems. But before I could even finish apologizing, he told me that there was no apology needed. Then he left before I could say another word."

"After he left, I felt better. Even though there was no possible way that that man could help me, I felt lighter somehow. As if I was no longer the only one dealing my problem." Ao shook her head slowly. "He hadn't done anything more than listen, but it had been more than what anyone else had done. And the fact that he now knew somehow made me feel. . . safer."

Kagome wasn't sure what to say to that. What could she say to that? The entire situation hit way too close to home for Kagome to comfortably respond to Ao's story. But Ao squeezed her hand in a silent act of understanding. "I know that talking won't be easy, and that you've probably heard a million times that talking makes you feel better. I'm not saying that, because that's a load of crap."

Kagome was confused now. "But didn't you-"

"Talking to just anyone won't do you a bit of good." Ao interrupted. "But talking to someone who understands the ramifications of what happened, and who knows the context of the situation will do you a world of good."

Kagome shook her head. "I don't think that's possible."

"Maybe not." Ao allowed. "For me, it was rather simple. The person who rescued me had a brother, albeit one he didn't get along with. But he was someone who understood what had happened to me, and after listening to me, understood the extent of the situation. And that is what helped in the end."

Kagome still wasn't sure what to say. Did she have anyone like that? She didn't think so. InuYasha and the others always skittered around the subject, as if they could make it go away. They pretended not to notice how much she was suffering. She certainly couldn't talk to them.

Luckily, Kagome was saved from a response when Ao jumped up. "Kin!"

Kagome looked up to see Kin returning, the two cones in a carry tray in his only hand. Kin eyed the two of them, as if searching for something. He caught Kagome's eyes, and for a moment, Kagome was held captive in them. She shivered as Kin stared into her eyes, as if he was seeing her soul.

"Kin, you old pervert. Stop checking out Kagome and hand over my ice cream!" Ao shouted.

Kin broke away from Kagome to glare at his wife. "I suggest you keep your voice down." He bit out, his voice ice cold. He handed Kagome her ice cream, nodding to her murmured thank you. Then he took a seat on the bench beside his wife. He stared directly at Ao, and then licked the chocolate ice cream cone in his hand.

"Kin!" Ao protested. "What are you doing with my ice cream?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Kin answered. "This is my ice cream."

Ao crossed her arms. "Very funny. You don't even like ice cream."

"I find nothing wrong with ice cream." Kin corrected. "I just do not like wasting money on frozen cream." He took another lick from the ice cream cone, and Kagome couldn't help but grin.

"Stop licking my ice cream cone." Ao nearly shouted.

"Oh, did you want ice cream?" Kin asked innocently. "I had no idea."

Another lick, and Kagome swore that if Ao was a demon, her eyes would be bleeding by now. "Hand over the ice cream right now, Kin. Or I will ground you for a month."

Slowly, and Kagome could swear mockingly, Kin bit off all the ice cream left above the cone. He swallowed and turned back to Ao, a smirk on his face. "Delicious."

"THIEF!" Ao screamed, lunging at Kin. Kagome was surprised at how fast Kin got out of Ao's way. He slid off the bench and stood, using a napkin to wipe his mouth.

"Calm yourself, Ao." Kin said calmly, his eyes dancing. "You shouldn't have ice cream anyway. It's bad for your cholesterol."

"My cholesterol can go to the underworld!" Ao proclaimed. "I want my ice cream, darn it!"

Kagome couldn't help it. She started laughing. Not a quiet laughter, but a full-scale belly laugh. It was the first time Kagome had laughed in weeks, and for the moment, she felt as if the weight on her shoulders had lifted. Ao and Kin stared at her, and after a moment, Ao leaned back on the bench and smiled.

"I apologize." Kagome said between laughs. "It's just. . . you two fight. . . like children." She laughed again, then sighed as the laughter died down. "I really am sorry."

"It does one good to laugh." Kin answered. "And Ao is used to it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ao asked dangerously.

Kagome laughed again, just as the Tokyo Conservational Bell announced that it was ten o' clock. "Oh no!" She exclaimed. "Is it really that late?" She jumped up and bowed to the elderly couple. "I'm very sorry, but I have to get home. My mother will start to worry about me."

"That's alright, dear." Ao assured her. "Thank you for entertaining us."

Kagome smiled, and impulsively leaned down to hug the elderly woman. "Thank you for the advice. Really." She bowed once more to Kin, and then started running towards home. Ao had given her a lot to think about, and perhaps it was worth paying attention to.

Ao and Kin, really Kagome and Sesshoumaru, sat on the bench for a few more moments. Then Sesshoumaru took Kagome's hand. "Was that wise? I thought you did not want to interact with yourself too much."

"I know." Kagome answered, rubbing her thumb over Sesshoumaru's hand to help calm her. She always hated remembering Muso. "But I needed someone to help me. I remember what it was like after Muso." Kagome looked down, her mind lost in the past. "My friends were so terrified of making things worse that they insisted on pretending that nothing had happened. Which of course only made things worse. And I couldn't tell my family. I couldn't let them worry more than they already did for my safety."

Sesshoumaru removed his hand from Kagome's grip and wrapped it around her waist. He pulled her into his chest and rested his head on hers. "You were, and are, safe from him. Muso's days are numbered." He tightened his grip on Kagome for a moment. "And the fool is lucky that he is dead. I would gladly kill him again."

Kagome chuckled softly and reached up to kiss him softly. "I know." The last of the shadows in her eyes disappeared as she relaxed into Sesshoumaru's hold. She was safe, and Sesshoumaru would always be there to keep things that way. What more could she ask for?

Kagome pulled herself over the side of the well. She had returned a day early, and so InuYasha wasn't at the well like he usually was. But no doubt, he would come as soon as he caught her scent. Kagome flopped down next to the well and waited for InuYasha to come.

A few minutes later, there was a rustling to the right. Kagome stood, expecting to see InuYasha. Instead, it was Sesshoumaru who entered the clearing that surrounded the well. Kagome's eyes widened, and she felt her hands shake. What was Sesshoumaru doing here? Kagome was getting more and more nervous as Sesshoumaru came closer. Just as she was about to jump down the well in an attempt to escape, Sesshoumaru stopped. He stared at her, his eyes flashing with confusion. And then the unexpected happened: Sesshoumaru spoke.

"What has changed, Miko?"

Kagome stared at him, the question startling her into a response. "Wha- what?"

Kagome didn't expect him to answer her question, and so she was surprised when he did. "You have never displayed fear in my presence, even when I have threatened your life. And yet this time, when I have not threatened you, you are terrified." He took a step forward, and Kagome backpedaled straight into the side of the well. He raised an eyebrow, and Kagome understood. His point was made. "What has happened to instill such fear?"

Kagome stared at him, and something in her broke. After weeks of living in a constant state of fear, Sesshoumaru's words were the final straw on the camel's back. Before Kagome even realized she was talking, the flood gates opened.

"You want to know what happened? Fine, I'll tell you! I was kidnapped by one of Naraku's incarnations, some jerk named Muso. And why? Because it was the part of Naraku that was still Onigumo. And Onigumo saw me and thought Kikyo. He wanted me to be his because I was the closest thing around that reminded him of Kikyo. Then InuYasha showed up, and the two of them fought like animals just like they always do." Kagome was trembling now as she mentally relived the battle in her head. "That alone probably wouldn't bother me. But he wouldn't die! No matter how many times he was hit, or in how many different ways, he just wouldn't die! He kept coming after me over and over again. And when InuYasha finally managed to break him down into the smallest pieces, he started reforming. Then Naraku's saimyosho showed up and carried away the pieces." Kagome knew that she should stop, but she couldn't stop her mouth from moving. "Even worse, no one went after him. We just let him go, and didn't even bother to chase him. He's still out there, just waiting for me to let my guard down so he could take me again. And I won't be able to do anything about it, because I'm nothing more than a weakling with only a fraction of the power I should have!"

Kagome took a deep breath when she was finished, unable to do much else. After she had caught her breath, she blushed. She'd just ranted at Sesshoumaru, the demon who could care less about human problems. He'd probably kill her for daring to rant at him. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to care. For the first time in weeks, she felt lighter. The burden of the knowledge no longer weighed down in her, and she felt free. So when she looked back up at him, she couldn't help but smile. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I shouldn't have-"

"This Sesshoumaru did not ask for an apology." Kagome started at that. Sesshoumaru stared down at her, as impassive as ever. "This Sesshoumaru asked a question, and the question was answered." He stared at her for a moment longer, then nodded, as if deciding something. Before Kagome could say a word, Sesshoumaru was gone.

Kagome didn't know how long she sat before InuYasha arrived. "Kagome! What the hell are you doing back so soon?"

Kagome looked at him for a moment, then let a small smile spread across her face. "What, are you saying you don't want me around?" Kagome teased.

InuYasha growled. "Of course I want you around! How the hell am I supposed to find jewel shards without you?"

Normally, Kagome would be offended at that. But at the moment, she was too happy to be insulted. Kagome laughed, not even sure what she was laughing about. As InuYasha stared at her in shock, Kagome stood and grabbed her bag. "Come on, InuYasha. Let's go find some jewel shards."

InuYasha stared at her for a moment, then grinned. "Bout time you came around to my side!" He bounded next to her, satisfied that Kagome was back to her old self. He was even able to ignore Sesshoumaru's scent in the clearing.

Sesshoumaru easily scented Naraku's incarnation. He was lurking within the forest, obviously tracking the miko. He made no effort to hide himself, which surprised Sesshoumaru. One would think that an offshoot of Naraku would have at least some guile, but apparently the being that was once Onigumo didn't have the mind of Naraku. Sesshoumaru closed in fairly quickly, catching up to him on the outskirts of the miko's village.

Sesshoumaru got the attention of Muso in his usual method. He struck out with his poison whip, giving Muso a large gash on his side. Muso cried out in pain and whirled on his attacker. "Who are you?" Muso demanded.

Sesshoumaru gave no answer, instead pressing forward with more strikes from his whip. Muso took the damage, not even bothering to dodge. Sesshoumaru soon saw that it was as the miko said; the incarnation simply put himself back together as if nothing had happened. "That hurts, you know!" The incarnation protested. His hand extended, nearly catching Sesshoumaru. Only the youkai's short reaction time kept him from losing another limb.

Thinking quickly, Sesshoumaru tried a distraction. "Why do you pursue the miko?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

Muso's attack immediately ended. "Because Kikyo saved me." Muso answered. "She is kind, good, and patient. She is everything that I am not. I love her for that, and I will make her mine!"

Sesshoumaru scoffed. "And how is it that you suddenly remember all this?"

"I am what remains of the bandit Onigumo." Muso answered. "Naraku has taken back Onigumo's heart, but I escaped before he could completely absorb him. And I remember everything. Kikyo will be mine. No one will stop me!"

This last bit was punctuated by another strike at Sesshoumaru, who easily avoided the attack. Then he struck out again with his poison whip, using it to slice the incarnation into little bits. Though he knew from the miko's description it would do little good, he still needed to verify it for himself. Sure enough, the incarnation easily began to piece himself back together. Before he was fully formed, Sesshoumaru noticed that what remained of his torso was pulsing. He also noticed that Muso's back was marked with the same spider mark that plagued Naraku. Could that be the center point that brought him back together?

By now, Muso was fully reformed. "You're trying to take her away from me, just like that damn hanyou!" Muso shouted. "I won't let you!"

He tried to strike again, but Sesshoumaru struck again with his whip, this time adding more poison to it. Muso's extensions starting sizzling, and Muso howled in pain. Making the most of the moment, Sesshoumaru shot forward until he stood behind the incarnation. Filling his claws with poison, Sesshoumaru drove his hand into the very center of the spider-shaped scar of Muso's back. Muso shrieked with pain, and Sesshoumaru winced from the ringing it caused in his ears. He pumped more poison into Muso, making the incarnation writhe. Sesshoumaru refused to release him, though. In just less than half a minute, Muso had dissolved into a pile of ash at Sesshoumaru's feet.

It was only then that Sesshoumaru sensed the presence of another. Calmly, he turned to face his half-brother. Absently, he wondered when the hanyou had arrived, but kept the question to himself. "Does something interest you, little brother?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

InuYasha stared at him, then narrowed his eyes at Sesshoumaru. "Why?"

Sesshoumaru considered the question for a moment. Why had he sought out the incarnation? The two would have eventually crossed paths, and the meeting would have inevitably ended in the same fashion. So why had he went out of his way to track the errant creation? Finally, he answered his brother's question. "The Miko no Shikon provided this Sesshoumaru with valuable information regarding Naraku's origins and his latest creation. This Sesshoumaru was simply repaying her."

Then, as he had with Kagome before, Sesshoumaru simply walked away.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!Author's Rant~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

InuYasha: WAIT ONE DAMN SECOND!

Obsessive_Goddess: [sigh] What is it, InuYasha?

Horse Wolves: Yeah, some of us would like to get on with the story.

InuYasha: How dare you give credit to Sesshoumaru for what I did! I'm the one who fought with Naraku! And secondly, Muso was reabsorbed into Naraku. Sesshoumaru did not kill him!

Obsessive_Goddess: You know, it's people like you who make authors like me want to give up writing.

Horse Wolves: I really hate those people who are such sticklers for detail. I mean, come on, it's called "creative license."

Obsessive_Goddess: Hello, this is a Sess/Kag. You'd think that the people who read them understand the importance of creative license. After all, what is more creative than Sesshoumaru and Kagome?

Horse Wolves: Some people just don't understand how hard we work!

InuYasha: . . . Exactly how does this answer my question?

Obsessive_Goddess: It's my story, and if I decide that Muso was killed by Sesshoumaru while you were off bitching, then that's the way it will be.

Horse Wolves: And before you start on how Naraku needs to reabsorb his heart, well we've covered that already. If you will recall Muso says that Naraku tried to reabsorb him, and managed to retake Onigumo's heart, but Muso himself escaped. If you don't like it, then stop reading. :-P

InuYasha: You act as if I have a choice! [pouts] And people call me childish.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!End of Author's Rant~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

*

Kin: Gold

Ao: Blue