InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution's Pursuit ❯ What Will Come of This? ( Chapter 16 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.08.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 340 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.08.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 340 | Status: Work In Progress
Absolution’s Pursuit
What Will Come of This?
…__________________________________________________________ _________...
‘I know… I know you never liked Inuyasha, so… why did you try to save him?’
The golden gaze of the demon lord became hazy, distant as the woman’s words played over and over in his mind.
Kagome stared at him, somehow managing not to stumble as she ignored the path ahead of her in favor of keeping her gaze fixed upon the profile of his face. His steps seemed to slow, just a little; enough so that she didn’t have to struggle so much to keep up with his long strides. For several paces he remained silent and she began to suspect that he would simply ignore her. She wouldn’t give up though, in spite of the fact that she had no idea how she would convince him to answer her should he prove reluctant to do so.
“Inuyasha,” the daiyoukai began slowly, thoughtfully. “In spite of what he was, he was the last of our family line. Since I have yet to sire a son of my own, he was my sole heir. His death was a loss to our clan.”
“Oh,” the miko murmured quietly. If he bothered to give it any level of consideration, the inu lord would have suspected that he’d detected a note of disappointment in her voice, though why he could not begin to imagine.
Finally turning back to the path ahead of them, the untrained miko frowned in thought. The was answer he’d given was satisfactory, in that it explained why the daiyoukai had attempted to save his younger brother, yet it sat heavily on her delicate heart. Thinking on it now she didn’t know why, but the young miko had, very foolishly hoped that somehow the brothers had come to an understanding. That in spite of their tumultuous past, they’d come together in the end, forging a connection made, if not of alliance and camaraderie, then at least one of acceptance and acknowledgement of the shared blood that bound them as brothers. Sadly, it seemed that that hadn’t been the case.
But then again, they truly seemed to have hated one another, and really, Sesshoumaru had accepted Inuyasha, in his own detached way. So really, it wasn’t so bad. Perhaps it was just her humanity that made her feel that, as brothers they should have held more for one another than disdain, hatred and finally a begrudging acceptance. Was it even fair to compare their bonds to human ones? Did youkai value such things?
“Did you,” the priestess spoke up before she gave herself permission to do so, “Did you care about him at all?”
“No,” the demon answered immediately, callously and inadvertently driving a spike of pain through his companion’s heart.
Then, just as Kagome was prepared to abandon the conversation in favor of making some pointless comment about the weather she heard him say, almost to himself, “I simply preferred him to remain alive. It was not until he died that I fully realized it.”
Her heart leaped in her chest, her astonished brown eyes shooting up to look at him. He avoided her gaze, very deliberately and even though his posture remained unchanged, he managed to give her the impression that he’d turned away from her.
“Our relationship was… complicated, and I do not wish to speak of it.” he murmured at last, his brow creasing in a discomfited scowl.
She didn’t know why, but his unwilling admission made her feel almost giddy, though she wisely refrained from showing it. Kagome had not shared Sesshoumaru’s company for very long, but already she’d observed that he, much like Inuyasha, found it extremely difficult, almost painfully so, to admit that he actually cared about anything or anyone. If he bothered to answer her questions at all, he would give the most basic, detached answer he could. But then if she prodded further and he was forced to talk about anything that hinted at an emotion of any kind, the demon lord became visibly discomfited and even somewhat hostile. Well, more hostile than he usually was. Still, within the depths of his iron-clad heart, he’d managed to find something for his brother, something other than shame, disgust and hatred; some value that meant that in his mind, the hanyou was worth saving. The thought brought a happy, melancholic tear to her eye which she quickly dashed away with the back of her hand, a small smile tugging the corner of her lips.
Tension gradually released its tight grip on the demon’s shoulders as the agonizingly talkative female beside him quieted, seemingly disinclined to pursue this line of discussion any further. There were more than a few reason why he did not wish to dwell on that particular subject.
Because he considered most creatures beneath him, Sesshoumaru had never carried on conversations such as the ones he found himself entertaining with this woman. Not that she wasn’t beneath him, as a human she obviously was, yet he could not treat her as he’d treated any other human he‘d encountered in the past. He could not simply dismiss her. Having offered the woman his protection, he realized that, in a way, he was actually accountable to her; even though she had never done anything that should place him in her debt. It had been his own doing of course, though not without good reason. Still it was almost surreal to find himself in this unforeseen, undesired, yet oddly tolerable companionship of a mortal woman. A miko at that! He should wish to be rid of her by now. Not only had she served her purpose, but should she choose to do so, the miko could easily rid the world of his presence with but a single touch. She was a threat, yet he willingly allowed her to stay with him, honoring his promise of protection even though he had no genuine desire to do so.
On the other hand, the demon lord could admit, if only to himself, that he did not abhor the miko’s presence. She was talkative and emotional, but she offered him something he had never experienced before. An equal standing with another living being. No, the woman was not his equal, not really, but she was probably as close as anyone would ever come. It was this so called equal ground that drew him to her, even as it simultaneously warded him away. He found it unusually interesting to converse with her, yet he also found himself not knowing precisely how to deal with her. If ever he grew weary of her presence, he could not simply kill her like he could anyone else. Should he, for whatever reason decide to rend her slender throat with his sharp claws, he would very likely seal his own fate, succumbing to the immense purity that even now danced about her unassuming form in rhythmic waves. In all his years he had only encountered one other miko of similar power as the one he now traveled with, and that woman was now dead. No other creature, demon or human could take his life so easily as the one he now protected. How terribly ironic.
“Sesshoumaru,” the miko spoke up, interrupting his train of thought. He did not answer her, keeping his eyes on the trail ahead, but his companion pressed on anyway. “I’ve been wanting to ask you… where’s… where’s Rin?”
Still clutching the naginata Totosai had gifted her with, the miko struggled to keep up with the male beside her, her breathing slightly labored as she shuffled through the grassy fields, beneath the trees of shaded forests, and into the glades again.
As she waited for a response, Kagome considered what he would say. She hadn’t noticed the girl’s absence, not right away. The emotional turmoil she’d gone through with the news of Inuyasha’s untimely demise had done much to keep her mind occupied. By the time she’d finally thought of the young girl she had occasionally seen traveling with Sesshoumaru, she’d almost expected the daiyoukai to retrieve, or even mention her at some point. Since he had yet to do either, she decided to sate her curiosity by asking.
“She no longer travels with me.” the demon lord intoned blandly, though Kagome did not miss the extra breath that escaped with his words; almost as if he had sighed them.
“Oh,” she said. Then, ignoring the annoying little voice in the back of her mind that suggested that she might be about to touch upon a sensitive subject she asked, “Why not?”
Sesshoumaru shrugged, ever so faintly. “She began to mature.” he stated matter-of-factly. “Her advancing age meant that she required guidance I was unable to provide her.”
Quietly, the miko gasped, looking up at him with large eyes. “So, you sent her away because…” she trailed off, clearly understanding but not knowing how exactly to word her response. “I mean… you didn’t just get tired of her tagging along with you? You sent her away for her own benefit?”
She heard him scoff quietly, though he gave no indication that he would answer her question.
Rin’s presence had never been burdensome to him. Obviously he had never requested that the girl follow him, but she did so anyway, singing her ridiculous songs, weaving flowers into her hair and asking him a million and one questions, most of which he never bothered to answer. She never requested anything of him, and mostly cared for herself. She was obedient and well behaved, aside from the occasional prank or three she would play on Jaken. He hadn’t minded that so much, except when the insufferable toad would come running to him expecting intervention.
These things alone would endear the girl to most, but he, Sesshoumaru would have accepted nothing less. He had brought her back from an early demise after all, and since it had been her decision to follow him the least she could do was not make herself more trouble than she was worth.
In the end, it all boiled down to loyalty and trust. The girl was fiercely loyal to him, and trusted the youkai lord like no other. She wholeheartedly believed that if trouble were to happen upon her, her Sesshoumaru-sama would save her. She knew it! And she was right. He protected her because, even without ever asking, she expected him to do so. She trusted and believed with all her heart that he would keep the bad things away. He never questioned it, instead allowing his instinct full reign when it came to her. If Rin screamed, he would find himself running to her, even before his mind would have instructed him to do so.
Strange how such an insignificant little peasant girl could affect the stony, frost-bitten old heart of a daiyoukai so.
He missed her.
As if having read his thoughts, Kagome looked up at him and smiled.
…________________________________________________________ ____________...
“Sesshoumaru, are there any villages near this area?”
“No.”
“Do you know when we’ll be near one?”
“Within a day or two.”
“A day or two?! I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long! I’m running out of food.”
“Woman, you will cease your whining this instant. Are you incapable of hunting your own prey?”
“Me?! Hunt?! You’ve got to be kidding! I mean, I can shoot a demon, but I’m no hunter! Besides, I’d never be able to… clean it.” Trembling at the idea of cutting up some unknown creature, Kagome grimaced, her little pink tongue peaking from between frowning lips. She looked over to her traveling companion, noticing the disdainful glance he had sent her way.
“Besides,” she spoke up in her own defense, “It’s not like I have any other weapons. A bow and arrow can only do so much you know.” She popped the last piece of dried meat into her mouth, the golden hues of the campfire dancing tirelessly over her face and hair. “And I wasn’t whining!” the miko added as an afterthought.
For his part, the daiyoukai did not appear to be listening, his unfocused gazed fixed upon the small fire. The cool breezes of the night caused the flames to flicker and sway as they struggled to maintain their hold on the small pile of wood from which they fed.
Many things drifted through the inu lord’s mind, not the least of which was the woman’s need for food. She could probably purify a hundred demons with a single arrow, yet she was incapable of procuring her own food. Truly, she was the strangest creature he had ever met. She was simultaneously powerful, and weak, both repelling and intriguing, immensely exasperating and yet oddly alluring.
Even now, as his species had begun to fade from this world, he noted that there were demons all around this place. There was no doubt that they were drawn, and yet warded away by the young priestess called Kagome. He could sense them closing in and then drifting away as they traveled together. It seemed that the woman sensed them as well, for she would occasionally glance over her shoulders, her eyes narrowing as her fingers tightened around the weapon Totosai had given her. She no longer carried the Shikon no tama, so it was a bit of a mystery as to why they seemed so drawn to her, lingering close enough to make their presence known, but not so close as to strike. It did not matter he supposed. The fact was that they were there, watching, waiting for the opportunity to strike; the moment she would drop her guard.
Or, when he would drop his.
He wouldn’t though.
Sighing, Kagome inadvertently caught Sesshoumaru’s attention, his amber gaze settling upon her form over the small space that separated them. Leaning against a the great, mossy trunk of a large tree, she stared listlessly into the sky. Beneath the oversized sleeves of her haori, the priestess was running her hands up and down the length of her arms as if to warm herself against the cool night air.
Clearly fatigued, she blinked languidly, the motions of her hands slowing as she began to rest more fully against the tree. Eventually, she closed her eyes, sighing again as she stilled and drifted into nothingness.
It was then that the daiyoukai began to consider just how vulnerable she truly was. In sleep, she was completely defenseless. If he were to abandon her now, the youkai would swoop down on her before she would have a chance to defend herself. They would rip her to pieces; devour her before she could ever know what had happened.
The thought held an unpleasantness he was at a loss to identify. Perhaps it had to do with the very real, yet intangible tether that anchored him to her. During this time, while she was resting, he might have considered going off on his own; taking some time for himself to clear his thoughts. But he could not. If he left her, she would surely die and her blood would be on his hands.
He should resent her for it, should wish to sever the strange ties of honor and begrudging companionship that were blossoming between them, yet he could not find it within himself to do so. He held no affection in his heart for her, yet he did not detest her; did not wish to see her harmed. In spite of the immense power she held at her command, she was a gentle, delicate creature, one who stirred something in those she came in contact with. It endeared her to them, and even though he fought against it each day he shared her presence, the pull of her intriguing, unique personality tugged at him; it’s beguiling tendrils coiling themselves around his mind and body.
Perhaps it was better that he leave her after all. What would happen if things continued this way?
Frowning, Sesshoumaru decided to abandon this train of thought. The miko was of no great concern at the moment. He needed to focus on the task ahead of him. Preventing the loss of his youkai power is what he had set out to do, and nothing would stand in the way of that objective. He would not grow weak and perish as a mortal! He would escape the fate that awaited the rest of his kind. Right now, that was the only thing that mattered!
And yet…
The warm weight of something soft and furry pooled across her body, and Kagome stirred groggily, her fingers instinctively curling into the fur. When she opened her eyes, she was only slightly startled to see Sesshoumaru kneeling over her, the fluffy pelt he always wore missing from his shoulder.
“What,” she began, her voice a breathy whisper, “What are you…?”
“Be quiet.” the demon lord intoned softly. Slowly, carefully, he tucked the fur beneath her chin, ensuring himself that she was fully protected against the cold.
Though she could barely keep her eyes open, Kagome stared up at him, watching as he in turn stared down at her. It seemed that there was something on his mind, though she could not begin to imagine what.
“Go to sleep.” he said suddenly, quietly, and then he rose and moved away from her.
Nodding her ascent to the demon who was no longer there, the priestess closed her eyes and drifted away.
…_____________________________________________________ _______________...
Mistress Sianna, she LIVES!! 0.0’
I won’t even bother making excuses about why this chapter is so disgustingly, inexcusably late! Life happens, ya know. Anyway, before someone asks, (and I KNOW someone will) “Remnants of the Spider” is not dead! Having said that, I’m not sure when I’ll get the update posted, but I’ll get to it okay?
TTFN!
Converting /tmp/phpNCztfD to /dev/stdout
What Will Come of This?
…__________________________________________________________ _________...
‘I know… I know you never liked Inuyasha, so… why did you try to save him?’
The golden gaze of the demon lord became hazy, distant as the woman’s words played over and over in his mind.
Kagome stared at him, somehow managing not to stumble as she ignored the path ahead of her in favor of keeping her gaze fixed upon the profile of his face. His steps seemed to slow, just a little; enough so that she didn’t have to struggle so much to keep up with his long strides. For several paces he remained silent and she began to suspect that he would simply ignore her. She wouldn’t give up though, in spite of the fact that she had no idea how she would convince him to answer her should he prove reluctant to do so.
“Inuyasha,” the daiyoukai began slowly, thoughtfully. “In spite of what he was, he was the last of our family line. Since I have yet to sire a son of my own, he was my sole heir. His death was a loss to our clan.”
“Oh,” the miko murmured quietly. If he bothered to give it any level of consideration, the inu lord would have suspected that he’d detected a note of disappointment in her voice, though why he could not begin to imagine.
Finally turning back to the path ahead of them, the untrained miko frowned in thought. The was answer he’d given was satisfactory, in that it explained why the daiyoukai had attempted to save his younger brother, yet it sat heavily on her delicate heart. Thinking on it now she didn’t know why, but the young miko had, very foolishly hoped that somehow the brothers had come to an understanding. That in spite of their tumultuous past, they’d come together in the end, forging a connection made, if not of alliance and camaraderie, then at least one of acceptance and acknowledgement of the shared blood that bound them as brothers. Sadly, it seemed that that hadn’t been the case.
But then again, they truly seemed to have hated one another, and really, Sesshoumaru had accepted Inuyasha, in his own detached way. So really, it wasn’t so bad. Perhaps it was just her humanity that made her feel that, as brothers they should have held more for one another than disdain, hatred and finally a begrudging acceptance. Was it even fair to compare their bonds to human ones? Did youkai value such things?
“Did you,” the priestess spoke up before she gave herself permission to do so, “Did you care about him at all?”
“No,” the demon answered immediately, callously and inadvertently driving a spike of pain through his companion’s heart.
Then, just as Kagome was prepared to abandon the conversation in favor of making some pointless comment about the weather she heard him say, almost to himself, “I simply preferred him to remain alive. It was not until he died that I fully realized it.”
Her heart leaped in her chest, her astonished brown eyes shooting up to look at him. He avoided her gaze, very deliberately and even though his posture remained unchanged, he managed to give her the impression that he’d turned away from her.
“Our relationship was… complicated, and I do not wish to speak of it.” he murmured at last, his brow creasing in a discomfited scowl.
She didn’t know why, but his unwilling admission made her feel almost giddy, though she wisely refrained from showing it. Kagome had not shared Sesshoumaru’s company for very long, but already she’d observed that he, much like Inuyasha, found it extremely difficult, almost painfully so, to admit that he actually cared about anything or anyone. If he bothered to answer her questions at all, he would give the most basic, detached answer he could. But then if she prodded further and he was forced to talk about anything that hinted at an emotion of any kind, the demon lord became visibly discomfited and even somewhat hostile. Well, more hostile than he usually was. Still, within the depths of his iron-clad heart, he’d managed to find something for his brother, something other than shame, disgust and hatred; some value that meant that in his mind, the hanyou was worth saving. The thought brought a happy, melancholic tear to her eye which she quickly dashed away with the back of her hand, a small smile tugging the corner of her lips.
Tension gradually released its tight grip on the demon’s shoulders as the agonizingly talkative female beside him quieted, seemingly disinclined to pursue this line of discussion any further. There were more than a few reason why he did not wish to dwell on that particular subject.
Because he considered most creatures beneath him, Sesshoumaru had never carried on conversations such as the ones he found himself entertaining with this woman. Not that she wasn’t beneath him, as a human she obviously was, yet he could not treat her as he’d treated any other human he‘d encountered in the past. He could not simply dismiss her. Having offered the woman his protection, he realized that, in a way, he was actually accountable to her; even though she had never done anything that should place him in her debt. It had been his own doing of course, though not without good reason. Still it was almost surreal to find himself in this unforeseen, undesired, yet oddly tolerable companionship of a mortal woman. A miko at that! He should wish to be rid of her by now. Not only had she served her purpose, but should she choose to do so, the miko could easily rid the world of his presence with but a single touch. She was a threat, yet he willingly allowed her to stay with him, honoring his promise of protection even though he had no genuine desire to do so.
On the other hand, the demon lord could admit, if only to himself, that he did not abhor the miko’s presence. She was talkative and emotional, but she offered him something he had never experienced before. An equal standing with another living being. No, the woman was not his equal, not really, but she was probably as close as anyone would ever come. It was this so called equal ground that drew him to her, even as it simultaneously warded him away. He found it unusually interesting to converse with her, yet he also found himself not knowing precisely how to deal with her. If ever he grew weary of her presence, he could not simply kill her like he could anyone else. Should he, for whatever reason decide to rend her slender throat with his sharp claws, he would very likely seal his own fate, succumbing to the immense purity that even now danced about her unassuming form in rhythmic waves. In all his years he had only encountered one other miko of similar power as the one he now traveled with, and that woman was now dead. No other creature, demon or human could take his life so easily as the one he now protected. How terribly ironic.
“Sesshoumaru,” the miko spoke up, interrupting his train of thought. He did not answer her, keeping his eyes on the trail ahead, but his companion pressed on anyway. “I’ve been wanting to ask you… where’s… where’s Rin?”
Still clutching the naginata Totosai had gifted her with, the miko struggled to keep up with the male beside her, her breathing slightly labored as she shuffled through the grassy fields, beneath the trees of shaded forests, and into the glades again.
As she waited for a response, Kagome considered what he would say. She hadn’t noticed the girl’s absence, not right away. The emotional turmoil she’d gone through with the news of Inuyasha’s untimely demise had done much to keep her mind occupied. By the time she’d finally thought of the young girl she had occasionally seen traveling with Sesshoumaru, she’d almost expected the daiyoukai to retrieve, or even mention her at some point. Since he had yet to do either, she decided to sate her curiosity by asking.
“She no longer travels with me.” the demon lord intoned blandly, though Kagome did not miss the extra breath that escaped with his words; almost as if he had sighed them.
“Oh,” she said. Then, ignoring the annoying little voice in the back of her mind that suggested that she might be about to touch upon a sensitive subject she asked, “Why not?”
Sesshoumaru shrugged, ever so faintly. “She began to mature.” he stated matter-of-factly. “Her advancing age meant that she required guidance I was unable to provide her.”
Quietly, the miko gasped, looking up at him with large eyes. “So, you sent her away because…” she trailed off, clearly understanding but not knowing how exactly to word her response. “I mean… you didn’t just get tired of her tagging along with you? You sent her away for her own benefit?”
She heard him scoff quietly, though he gave no indication that he would answer her question.
Rin’s presence had never been burdensome to him. Obviously he had never requested that the girl follow him, but she did so anyway, singing her ridiculous songs, weaving flowers into her hair and asking him a million and one questions, most of which he never bothered to answer. She never requested anything of him, and mostly cared for herself. She was obedient and well behaved, aside from the occasional prank or three she would play on Jaken. He hadn’t minded that so much, except when the insufferable toad would come running to him expecting intervention.
These things alone would endear the girl to most, but he, Sesshoumaru would have accepted nothing less. He had brought her back from an early demise after all, and since it had been her decision to follow him the least she could do was not make herself more trouble than she was worth.
In the end, it all boiled down to loyalty and trust. The girl was fiercely loyal to him, and trusted the youkai lord like no other. She wholeheartedly believed that if trouble were to happen upon her, her Sesshoumaru-sama would save her. She knew it! And she was right. He protected her because, even without ever asking, she expected him to do so. She trusted and believed with all her heart that he would keep the bad things away. He never questioned it, instead allowing his instinct full reign when it came to her. If Rin screamed, he would find himself running to her, even before his mind would have instructed him to do so.
Strange how such an insignificant little peasant girl could affect the stony, frost-bitten old heart of a daiyoukai so.
He missed her.
As if having read his thoughts, Kagome looked up at him and smiled.
…________________________________________________________ ____________...
“Sesshoumaru, are there any villages near this area?”
“No.”
“Do you know when we’ll be near one?”
“Within a day or two.”
“A day or two?! I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long! I’m running out of food.”
“Woman, you will cease your whining this instant. Are you incapable of hunting your own prey?”
“Me?! Hunt?! You’ve got to be kidding! I mean, I can shoot a demon, but I’m no hunter! Besides, I’d never be able to… clean it.” Trembling at the idea of cutting up some unknown creature, Kagome grimaced, her little pink tongue peaking from between frowning lips. She looked over to her traveling companion, noticing the disdainful glance he had sent her way.
“Besides,” she spoke up in her own defense, “It’s not like I have any other weapons. A bow and arrow can only do so much you know.” She popped the last piece of dried meat into her mouth, the golden hues of the campfire dancing tirelessly over her face and hair. “And I wasn’t whining!” the miko added as an afterthought.
For his part, the daiyoukai did not appear to be listening, his unfocused gazed fixed upon the small fire. The cool breezes of the night caused the flames to flicker and sway as they struggled to maintain their hold on the small pile of wood from which they fed.
Many things drifted through the inu lord’s mind, not the least of which was the woman’s need for food. She could probably purify a hundred demons with a single arrow, yet she was incapable of procuring her own food. Truly, she was the strangest creature he had ever met. She was simultaneously powerful, and weak, both repelling and intriguing, immensely exasperating and yet oddly alluring.
Even now, as his species had begun to fade from this world, he noted that there were demons all around this place. There was no doubt that they were drawn, and yet warded away by the young priestess called Kagome. He could sense them closing in and then drifting away as they traveled together. It seemed that the woman sensed them as well, for she would occasionally glance over her shoulders, her eyes narrowing as her fingers tightened around the weapon Totosai had given her. She no longer carried the Shikon no tama, so it was a bit of a mystery as to why they seemed so drawn to her, lingering close enough to make their presence known, but not so close as to strike. It did not matter he supposed. The fact was that they were there, watching, waiting for the opportunity to strike; the moment she would drop her guard.
Or, when he would drop his.
He wouldn’t though.
Sighing, Kagome inadvertently caught Sesshoumaru’s attention, his amber gaze settling upon her form over the small space that separated them. Leaning against a the great, mossy trunk of a large tree, she stared listlessly into the sky. Beneath the oversized sleeves of her haori, the priestess was running her hands up and down the length of her arms as if to warm herself against the cool night air.
Clearly fatigued, she blinked languidly, the motions of her hands slowing as she began to rest more fully against the tree. Eventually, she closed her eyes, sighing again as she stilled and drifted into nothingness.
It was then that the daiyoukai began to consider just how vulnerable she truly was. In sleep, she was completely defenseless. If he were to abandon her now, the youkai would swoop down on her before she would have a chance to defend herself. They would rip her to pieces; devour her before she could ever know what had happened.
The thought held an unpleasantness he was at a loss to identify. Perhaps it had to do with the very real, yet intangible tether that anchored him to her. During this time, while she was resting, he might have considered going off on his own; taking some time for himself to clear his thoughts. But he could not. If he left her, she would surely die and her blood would be on his hands.
He should resent her for it, should wish to sever the strange ties of honor and begrudging companionship that were blossoming between them, yet he could not find it within himself to do so. He held no affection in his heart for her, yet he did not detest her; did not wish to see her harmed. In spite of the immense power she held at her command, she was a gentle, delicate creature, one who stirred something in those she came in contact with. It endeared her to them, and even though he fought against it each day he shared her presence, the pull of her intriguing, unique personality tugged at him; it’s beguiling tendrils coiling themselves around his mind and body.
Perhaps it was better that he leave her after all. What would happen if things continued this way?
Frowning, Sesshoumaru decided to abandon this train of thought. The miko was of no great concern at the moment. He needed to focus on the task ahead of him. Preventing the loss of his youkai power is what he had set out to do, and nothing would stand in the way of that objective. He would not grow weak and perish as a mortal! He would escape the fate that awaited the rest of his kind. Right now, that was the only thing that mattered!
And yet…
The warm weight of something soft and furry pooled across her body, and Kagome stirred groggily, her fingers instinctively curling into the fur. When she opened her eyes, she was only slightly startled to see Sesshoumaru kneeling over her, the fluffy pelt he always wore missing from his shoulder.
“What,” she began, her voice a breathy whisper, “What are you…?”
“Be quiet.” the demon lord intoned softly. Slowly, carefully, he tucked the fur beneath her chin, ensuring himself that she was fully protected against the cold.
Though she could barely keep her eyes open, Kagome stared up at him, watching as he in turn stared down at her. It seemed that there was something on his mind, though she could not begin to imagine what.
“Go to sleep.” he said suddenly, quietly, and then he rose and moved away from her.
Nodding her ascent to the demon who was no longer there, the priestess closed her eyes and drifted away.
…_____________________________________________________ _______________...
Mistress Sianna, she LIVES!! 0.0’
I won’t even bother making excuses about why this chapter is so disgustingly, inexcusably late! Life happens, ya know. Anyway, before someone asks, (and I KNOW someone will) “Remnants of the Spider” is not dead! Having said that, I’m not sure when I’ll get the update posted, but I’ll get to it okay?
TTFN!
Converting /tmp/phpNCztfD to /dev/stdout