InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon's Heart and Ultimate Sacrifice (Kag/Sess) ❯ Kagome's Pride/Sango's Hand ( Chapter 9 )

Naraku was stunned at the fury the demon had shown, when he had slain the humans that attacked the priestess. He did not simply attack them. Naraku watched the demon show an amount of fury that led to him simply ripping the human's limb from limb in seconds. The fact that he had saved her was not a surprise. The demon lord had too much pride not too, as he had taken her as his responsibility. Then he had watched in interest as the priestess embraced him. Surely the great lord Sesshoumaru would not tolerate such a thing. Too his surprise he had. "So, the great lord of the western lands has fallen from grace…how pathetic." Naraku began to chuckle knowing that he did, indeed, hold leverage over both brothers. Though, it was unlikely he would ever get close to the demon's young child, he knew that if the priestess were ever to rejoin InuYasha, he would be able to get her.

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InuYasha sat alone on the branch of a tree. He watched Sango and Miroku walk off by themselves holding hands. They had been doing that more and more lately. Shippou and Kilala were playing in the nearby field. InuYasha flashed back to the fear and pain in the eyes of Kagome's mother. He knew he had to go and tell her family why it had been that Kagome had not returned home. Though he made sure they knew that she was safe with his brother, it did not stop her mother from becoming terrified for her daughter's safety. Though Jaken had returned on two more occasions with news of Kagome's safety, InuYasha was becoming very frustrated with the situation. There had been times he was tempted to take off for Sesshoumaru's castle himself, but he knew he could not beat Sesshoumaru. He was gaining more strength. Tetsusaiga had become easier to wield. However, he had yet to regain its total use.

Seeing Miroku and Sango together only made him notice Kagome's absence that much more. The last two weeks had seemed to last forever. Practicing the Tetsusaiga was draining, though InuYasha would never admit it. He was growing fatigued again.

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Sango looked at Miroku, who was walking beside her quietly. "What are you thinking about?" Miroku almost looked startled at her question and then blushed. Sango didn't need an answer. The monk better watch himself, she thought in amusement. She had to admit that he had been treating her very respectfully lately. Sango blushed when she realized that in some ways that disappointed her. She had grown very close to him in the last couple of weeks and had a warm feeling come over here when she was with him. Miroku noticed Sango's sudden flush.

"What are you thinking about?" Miroku asked with a laugh in his voice. This only made Sango blush more. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. "You look beautiful when you blush, Sango."

The words melted Sango's heart. Miroku was the only person that had ever referred to her as beautiful. She stopped walking and looked up at him. Then quickly she gave him a kiss. When she stepped back, his eyes were wide, as if he were in shock. This made Sango laugh out loud. Who would imagine that he, Miroku, could be shocked by such a thing?

He couldn't believe that Sango had just kissed him. He had been longing to do such a thing for awhile, and had been doing his best to restrain himself. Had he not had so much of his monk training, he is not sure he would have been able to. Now looking down at her, he was glad that he had stopped himself on so many occasions. This time he kissed her, and was happy that she did not hit him over the head for his advances. He then grabbed her hand and began walking again. He knew that it was best he not be alone with Sango, in such away. Or he feared he would acquire a lump or two before days end.

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Kagome heard a knock at her door. "She was putting antiseptic on some scratches on her legs. "Come in" she called. Sesshoumaru opened her door and looked in at her. "Rin would like to see that you are doing well." He said in an emotionless voice. "I will send her up, shortly." Kagome almost winced, but not in pain. Sesshoumaru sounded cold to her. Much like the old Sesshoumaru. He turned and closed her door behind him. A few moments later Rin came through her door, followed by Sesshoumaru. "Rin, it is polite to knock before entering a room." He told her firmly. The young girl instantly froze and then apologized to Kagome. "That's okay Rin, I'm just glad to see you." With that the young girl ran to Kagome and hugged her. She was in great pain, but tried not to show it. She sat on her bed and Rin joined her. Again Sesshoumaru intervened. "Rin, you should ask before you get onto Kagome's bed." Kagome turned to look at him, and noticed that he was studying her very intently. She could not even begin to fathom what he was thinking. She noticed his eyes scanning her arms, which held many visible bruises. Rin was chattering away to Kagome, and she was never so happy to hear her sweet voice. Soon, however, Sesshoumaru told Rin it was time for sleep. Rin put her arm around Kagome's back and leaned in for a hug. Though she tried her best to show no pain, she lurch upward as Rin's arm grazed her back. Rin did not seem to think anything of it, but it did not get by the Demon Lord unnoticed. As he walked Rin to the door he looked back at Kagome. "I will return soon." Then he left.

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InuYasha was again working at his Tetsusaiga. He could feel the powerful swords energy. He knew that he was growing stronger, and would again master the Tetsusaiga. He only wished Kagome where here. With her by his side he knew he could do it.

InuYasha, Miroku and Sango sat around their campfire that night talking. Shippou and Kilala were fast asleep. InuYasha decided that since the young fox cub was asleep he was going to bring up a subject that he was curious about.

"The two of you have been wandering off alone a lot lately, Sango has the monk finally convinced you to bear his child?" InuYasha watched as Sango's face turned a deep shade of red. Miroku began to speak defensively.

"InuYasha, how dare you imply I would take advantage of Sango, I have treated her with the utmost dignity and respect. The monk stood about to take a step toward the half demon, when he froze in his tracks. InuYasha saw a look of absolute shock sweep over Miroku's face. His eyes grew large and his face turned bright red. When he looked down, he saw that Sango's hand rest on Miroku's back side. She was wearing a devilish smirk on her face. The two of them broke out in laughter at the monks shocked look.

"What's wrong Miroku; don't you like it when it's you being groped?" Asked InuYasha. The monk's face had returned to normal. He gave a thoughtful look then said, "I'm not entirely sure, I suppose if it where to happen again I could better assess the situation." Sango stopped laughing then said, "Watch yourself, monk." Again they all began to laugh.

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Again Kagome heard a slight knock at her door. "Come in" she called out. Lord Sesshoumaru entered her room this time coming to her bed side.

"Kagome, remove your Kimono." He said this as he unsheathed his Tenseiga. The look on her face told him he had frightened her at his request. Giving this quick thought, he assumed that the young girl probably associated his asking her to remove her clothing with the men that tried to forcibly remove them. Instantly, he regretted the words he had just spoken to the frightened human. "Kagome," he began in a more soothing voice "I saw you wince in pain when Rin touched your back. You obviously have sustained an injury. I will heal it for you." He watched her eyes fill up with tears.

"Please don't use the Tenseiga to heel my wounds. I would rather they heal on their own." Her words played in his head.

"Why would you want injuries made by those retched humans, to remain on your body?" He inquired to the young girl.

"My mother always told me that what doesn't kill you will make you a stronger person. I believe letting my wounds heal over time will help me come out of this a stronger person." The demon looked at the human with a newfound respect. He could easily take away her pain, yet she refused.

"If you will not let me heal you, then please allow me to dress the wound on your back." Kagome looked up at him sharply. That was the first and only time she had ever heard Sesshoumaru, the great demon lord of the western lands, use the word please. She slowly nodded her head, and he turned his back to her. She slowly slipped off her kimono and wrapped herself in a sheet.

The sight on the humans back was enough to cause the demon's claws to unsheathe themselves. She was covered with bruises, and she had a gash that started just below her right shoulder blade and was several inches long. Though it did not appear to be exceptionally deep. The bruises on her shoulder clearly showed where one of the human's hands had gripped her. Kagome turned as she began to hear a low growl from behind her. She could see that he was near a rage. She began to tremble slightly. Almost instantly, the growl disappeared. She clutched the sheet closer to her and she sat with her back to him.

"Where is it that you keep your bandages?" She pointed to the corner where her bag sat. He walked to it and retrieved what he would need to clean and dress the wound. The mighty Lord felt slightly uncomfortable sitting on her bed with her, but did so anyway. He could feel tension in her body as he began to clean her wound, which appeared to be infected.

"Why did you not tell me of this injury?" He asked somewhat harshly. He did not like the idea of her hiding such a thing from him.

"I didn't realize it was a bad wound," she replied though he realized that it was a lie.

"Don't you feel it would be in your best interest if you were truthful with me?" He again said in a voice that was harsher that he had intended it to be. He noticed that she began to quiver, and for the first time in many days he sensed that she was afraid of him. He removed the cloth from her back.

"Kagome I do not wish to sound harsh, for that I ask your forgiveness." He could tell she was crying by the salty scent of her tears. "I will arrange for one of the servants to finish here." He said and started to get up only to have her turn to face him.

"Please don't send anyone. I don't want anyone to know what happened." This too confused Sesshoumaru.

"Why is it you want no one to know of this? You were outnumbered by cowards; you should not feel shamed that you were unable to protect yourself."

"I'm not ashamed that I couldn't defend myself. I just don't want anyone to know what happened." He was growing frustrated with her explanations.

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru and suddenly noticed he was not wearing his armor. He seemed much less threatening too her now. She could tell that he did not understand how she felt, and was growing impatient with her.

"Today my dignity was hurt more than my flesh. Those men tried to violate me in a way that is worse than if they had tried to kill me. My body is mine, and not there for others to use."

He watched as she again began to cry then turn away. Her explanation had finally helped him to understand. For a fleeting moment, he pictured Rin in a similar situation and that made the picture that much clearer. Not only had she been terrified by the men, but she had been humiliated and violated. He softly began to clean the wound again.

Late that night Sesshoumaru was awoken by Rin's shouting, outside of his room. When he faced the little girl he could see tears in her eyes.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, Kagome is frightened. Rin heard her crying and screaming in her room." Sesshoumaru told Rin to go back into her room; that he would check on Kagome. He did indeed find her in a troubled state. It appeared that she was having a nightmare. He put his hand on her shoulder and called her name. The violence at which the girl jerked awake made him take a step back from her.

"Will you be alright, Kagome?" he said to her in a monotone voice. He could again see that she was trembling. He did not even have to ask her about her dream, he knew of what had scared her. She looked as if she wanted to say something to him, but did not know how or what it was. He stood there watching her, until she had calmed down. "Do you have something of which you would like to speak?"

Again Kagome winced at his cold tone. She looked at him and decided she did want to ask him something. "Today, after I sent Rin back to you. I became very frightened when they pulled me from the bushes, so frightened I felt that I was going to faint. Then I felt this rush go through me. It gave me strength that I didn't know I had. It was like something had taken over me. I was able to break free from the men and thought I might get away. It took them a couple of minutes to catch me. I have never felt this feeling before and don't know what it was." He looked at her for a moment, giving her statement much thought.

"I believe that you called up your priestess powers. You knew you were in great danger and had no knowledge about what you had done. Much like a demon, you used your instincts. A mere human, with no such powers, would have not been as lucky as you. That is why the men were unable to fulfill their intentions." Kagome shuttered just thinking about what their intentions had been. It is true that had she not broken free, they would have had much more time with her before Sesshoumaru appeared.

After he left her room, she was left pondering something he said. He said that she was not just a "mere human" and even more surprising to her, he had compared her, a human, to a demon. Something she was sure he did not often do.