InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Unforeseen Flame ❯ Rescue ( Chapter 5 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: XmArKzThEsPoT 
Sesshomaru comes to Kagome's rescue.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Action / Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.02.2011 | Updated On: 09.24.2012 | Pages: 1 | Words: 2.2K | Visits: 569 | Status: Work In Progress
Sesshomaru comes to Kagome's rescue.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Action / Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.02.2011 | Updated On: 09.24.2012 | Pages: 1 | Words: 2.2K | Visits: 569 | Status: Work In Progress
A/N: Oh, I definitely enjoyed writing this chapter! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, nor could I ever hope to be as genius as Rumiko Takahashi.
The now familiar scent of Kagome's fear wound its way, snakelike, through the trees of the dense forest, an almost imperceptible breeze wafting the pervading odor directly underneath Sesshomaru's finely tuned nose. He surmised that the woman was probably in a great deal of trouble, a fact which the Demon Lord found incredibly unsurprising. She was definitely a rash being, and, in her haste to retrieve the shard of the Shikon no Tama, she had most likely rushed head first at the demon without even considering her own well-being.
"What a fool," the demon lord muttered under his breath in annoyance. Did she really think she could stand her ground against a demon in possession of the jewel shard both single- and empty-handed? Sesshomaru reached the clearing in time to witness Kagome dangling by her hair in the lizard's grasp as he knocked her unconscious.
"I would relinquish that woman if I were you, vermin," he stated icily, hidden by the shadows of the forest's leafy verdure. The sound sent shivers up both the demon's and the conscious girl's backs.
"Doess sssshe belong to you?" the demon sneered, shaking off his fear and flinging the woman to the ground unceremoniously as he turned to face his new opponent. She hit the ground with a resounding thud, falling hard onto her side, her raven locks settling chaotically over her face and obscuring it from view.
"Yes," Sesshomaru replied coolly, stepping out of the shadows. The girl that the lizard demon had been tormenting gasped in astonishment at the beauty of the demon before her and the frighteningly cold expression he wore upon his flawless features.
"Then you sssshould have taught her better mannerssss," he hissed, chuckling to himself and surveying the Demon Lord before him arrogantly, the jewel shard in the back of his neck giving him false confidence. "Take her, if you can."
Sesshomaru wasted no time complying with the demon's offer. In one fluid motion, he thrust his poison claw through the creature's neck, dislodging the tainted jewel shard as his hand melted through the creature's thick scales as smoothly as a knife through butter. The glistening purple stone fell to the ground, gleaming through the thick grass that covered it. The demon crumpled, collapsing in a heap on the ground, its yellowed eyes cloudy and lifeless. It did not even have time to gasp for air before it had died. Without giving the lowly creature a second thought, Sesshomaru shook the blood from his claws and turned to examine Kagome.
She was lying in the grass, completely motionless, and if it hadn't been for his sharp sense of hearing, he would have missed the almost imperceptible sound of her slowed breathing. The smell of fresh blood wasn't on her, but, not deigning to bend over to attend to any possible wounds, he nudged her with his toe, rolling her onto her back just to be sure. A fresh bruise in the shape of a scaly claw was forming, dark against the pale skin of her cheek, but he could discern no other new marks upon her.
Once Sesshomaru had determined that the woman could be moved without exacerbating some sort of injury, he tossed her roughly over his shoulder, for the second time that day. The Demon Lord couldn't help feeling that this woman spent an inordinate amount of time unconscious. Without any regard to the woman dangling limp over his shoulder, the inuyoukai bent to retrieve the source of all this inconvenience. He could feel the turmoil inside the darkened shard as it touched his skin, sparking a bit as it fought to overpower him, but it was of minor consequence. A single shard might have swayed a lesser demon, but the Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't be controlled so easily. His gaze shifted from the shard, and he noticed the other girl who had remained frozen, watching him fearfully.
"Return to your village before his fate becomes yours as well," he instructed as he disappeared into the forest, not even bothering to glance back at her. The young female was quick to oblige him, tripping over herself without grace in the hurry to remove herself from the Youkai Lord's presence.
Deciding he was not yet ready to return to his party, the demon lord meandered for awhile, Kagome slung over his shoulder. He debated the merits of keeping the woman as a travelling companion as he walked aimlessly. She had already proven herself quite incommodious, on top of being discourteous and obstinate. Anyone with any sort of desire for self-preservation would have kept their displeasure with Sesshomaru and his decisions to themselves, instead of attempting to dispute them. But here was this headstrong food of a woman challenging his authority within minutes of being conscious in his presence, and he had allowed that.
On top of that, he was finding himself intrigued by her, a feat that should have been impossible for a human to accomplish. She was courageous, albeit exceptionally imprudent. She was honorable, a trait Sesshomaru was certain no other human possessed. And, he had to admit to himself, she was something of an enigma. She hailed from a different time period, and if that wasn't strange enough, she then chose to spend her time traipsing through the past with some pathetic half demon who didn't even qualify as proper protection. And even then, despite the hanyou's shortcomings, she fell in love with him, all while he languished over some dead priestess that had bound him to a tree for fifty years.
Sesshomaru sighed to himself inwardly. He would never understand humans or their petty emotions. But now, thanks to this woman, he was dwelling on them as though he were curious, as if humanity had any business inside the private confines of his mind. If he had any sense at all, he would just rid himself of her and all the hassle she was bound to be if he allowed her to continue on with them. Who would know? He could dispatch her here, or throw her in the well or do whatever it was he pleased to liberate himself of her company, and no one would be the wiser. He could just tell Rin he arrived too late, and there was nothing he could do about it.
His eyes moved to the sword on his hip. Damned useless weapon. Rin was the only good the rusted thing ever managed. Here the Tensaiga was, hindering him yet again. Rin would know he was lying. She knew better than anyone the capabilities of his sword. The Demon Lord scoffed at his ridiculous line of thinking. He was Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands. He didn't answer to a ten year old. In fact, he could rid himself of Kagome and owe no one any explanation whatsoever.
It didn't matter, however. The inuyoukai's honor would not allow him to murder this woman while she was unconscious. If he did decide to dispatch her, she would be awake and facing him, weapon in hand. Unlike Naraku, he did not prey on the helpless.
His thoughts were disrupted by the burbling sound of running water. Up ahead, he could see a small stream shimmering golden in the sunlight. As he approached the rocky embankment, he could see that the slow-moving water was so clear that he could make out the smooth, stony bottom of the channel perfectly. The stream itself was wide and reasonably shallow, but deep enough for a person lying on their back to be almost completely covered by water. Well, the woman did need a bath. Taking no care to be gentle with her, he hefted Kagome over his shoulder and dropped her in the water, completely dousing her. For the second time this day, Kagome woke with a pounding headache.
"What did you do that for? That water is freezing!" she shouted angrily, jumping out of the frigid water instantly. Then, remembering the earlier events, surveyed her surroundings with confusion. "What happened?"
It was late in the afternoon, and evening was quickly approaching. The birds in the trees above her were twittering lethargically as the bright orange orb in the sky was beginning to make its routine descent. She was no longer in the bright clearing, fending off a lizard demon. Instead she was on the rocky banks of a wide stream with Sesshomaru who was towering over her disinterestedly.
"It would appear you cannot go a day without managing to lose consciousness at the most inopportune of times," Sesshomaru replied unsympathetically, trying to keep his annoyance with her out of her voice. It would not do for the female to learn that she could touch on his nerves.
Gingerly, she pressed a cold hand to her cheek, soothing the bruise where the demon had struck her, wincing a little. Kagome dipped her hand into the cold water and pressed it to her face a second time. She grimaced again, clutching her side carefully, when she realized her ribs were now bruised as well.
"Are you injured?" he inquired, trying to sound apathetic as his eyes roamed her body for any outward sign of injury that he had missed during his cursory examination. He hadn't discerned the pungent odor of fresh blood, but for some unknown reason, he found himself concerned, nonetheless.
"I'm just a little sore. I probably hurt myself worse last night," she answered him with a small, sheepish smile that caught him off guard. "Thank you for asking."
He stood there silently, watching her shiver, hugging her arms about herself for warmth. Her long dark tresses hung mussed about her face appealingly, curling at the ends slightly as they began to dry. Her short uniform was clinging to her curves inappropriately, and the white top, drenched with water, had become almost transparent. It was a sight that would have made a lesser man blush and rouse lust in even the most chaste. She was, by all means, an attractive woman, for a human.
Sesshomaru pushed the thought from his mind in disgust. She was a human and, therefore, undeserving of such thoughts. He would never stoop to his father's level. After all, he was a full blooded Youkai Lord of discerning tastes. When he took a mate, if the time ever came, she would not only be beautiful, but powerful as well.
Kagome, unaware of her appearance, was also watching Sesshomaru with an intense interest. The orange sunlight seemed to be tangled in his silver locks, making them glow luminously, and once again, Kagome was caught off guard by his beauty. His towering figure and noble mien coupled with his pale skin and elegant dress and markings were enough to take anyone's breath away. But, there was something about his eyes that Kagome was becoming infatuated with. For a moment, she wondered if it was because they reminded her of Inuyasha's familiar amber eyes, but that couldn't be it. They were cold and seemingly emotionless, yet not. There was something hidden beneath those limpid golden pools, something she couldn't put her finger on. Something she almost wanted to discover.
Sesshomaru caught her staring. It surprised him. She was not lowering her eyes in respect, but studying him. Should he be insulted that she was openly showing him such disrespect, or should he take her scrutiny as a compliment? He knew not. He realized that she was shivering uncontrollably and felt a twinge of guilt for throwing her into the freezing water. Immediately he shook the though from his head. He was becoming soft like his father, something he would prevent from occurring at all costs.
"If you feel you must collect the shards of the Shikon no Tama, you may do so. I now understand that it is a matter of your honor. Do not pursue a demon without informing me first. Nor shall you attempt to do battle with one without the proper weaponry. I do not like inconveniencing myself for your sake," he remarked calmly. He was disguising his anger with her well.
"Yes, thank you Sesshomaru-sama," she replied bowing her head. This action of hers also surprised him, though he did not show it. She was a strange woman, indeed, unlike any of the silly humans he had come across before. Although, she had the tendency to be foolish, it was over the well-being of others, not her own. At least, with this knowledge, he could feel secure in his choice of caretaker for his young ward. "If I may ask, why did you trouble yourself for my sake?"
"Rin would be sad to lose her companion," he stated succinctly as he began to walk in the direction of his vassals and away from the shivering woman. Kagome, grateful for her life, followed the Youkai Lord wordlessly.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, nor could I ever hope to be as genius as Rumiko Takahashi.
The now familiar scent of Kagome's fear wound its way, snakelike, through the trees of the dense forest, an almost imperceptible breeze wafting the pervading odor directly underneath Sesshomaru's finely tuned nose. He surmised that the woman was probably in a great deal of trouble, a fact which the Demon Lord found incredibly unsurprising. She was definitely a rash being, and, in her haste to retrieve the shard of the Shikon no Tama, she had most likely rushed head first at the demon without even considering her own well-being.
"What a fool," the demon lord muttered under his breath in annoyance. Did she really think she could stand her ground against a demon in possession of the jewel shard both single- and empty-handed? Sesshomaru reached the clearing in time to witness Kagome dangling by her hair in the lizard's grasp as he knocked her unconscious.
"I would relinquish that woman if I were you, vermin," he stated icily, hidden by the shadows of the forest's leafy verdure. The sound sent shivers up both the demon's and the conscious girl's backs.
"Doess sssshe belong to you?" the demon sneered, shaking off his fear and flinging the woman to the ground unceremoniously as he turned to face his new opponent. She hit the ground with a resounding thud, falling hard onto her side, her raven locks settling chaotically over her face and obscuring it from view.
"Yes," Sesshomaru replied coolly, stepping out of the shadows. The girl that the lizard demon had been tormenting gasped in astonishment at the beauty of the demon before her and the frighteningly cold expression he wore upon his flawless features.
"Then you sssshould have taught her better mannerssss," he hissed, chuckling to himself and surveying the Demon Lord before him arrogantly, the jewel shard in the back of his neck giving him false confidence. "Take her, if you can."
Sesshomaru wasted no time complying with the demon's offer. In one fluid motion, he thrust his poison claw through the creature's neck, dislodging the tainted jewel shard as his hand melted through the creature's thick scales as smoothly as a knife through butter. The glistening purple stone fell to the ground, gleaming through the thick grass that covered it. The demon crumpled, collapsing in a heap on the ground, its yellowed eyes cloudy and lifeless. It did not even have time to gasp for air before it had died. Without giving the lowly creature a second thought, Sesshomaru shook the blood from his claws and turned to examine Kagome.
She was lying in the grass, completely motionless, and if it hadn't been for his sharp sense of hearing, he would have missed the almost imperceptible sound of her slowed breathing. The smell of fresh blood wasn't on her, but, not deigning to bend over to attend to any possible wounds, he nudged her with his toe, rolling her onto her back just to be sure. A fresh bruise in the shape of a scaly claw was forming, dark against the pale skin of her cheek, but he could discern no other new marks upon her.
Once Sesshomaru had determined that the woman could be moved without exacerbating some sort of injury, he tossed her roughly over his shoulder, for the second time that day. The Demon Lord couldn't help feeling that this woman spent an inordinate amount of time unconscious. Without any regard to the woman dangling limp over his shoulder, the inuyoukai bent to retrieve the source of all this inconvenience. He could feel the turmoil inside the darkened shard as it touched his skin, sparking a bit as it fought to overpower him, but it was of minor consequence. A single shard might have swayed a lesser demon, but the Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't be controlled so easily. His gaze shifted from the shard, and he noticed the other girl who had remained frozen, watching him fearfully.
"Return to your village before his fate becomes yours as well," he instructed as he disappeared into the forest, not even bothering to glance back at her. The young female was quick to oblige him, tripping over herself without grace in the hurry to remove herself from the Youkai Lord's presence.
Deciding he was not yet ready to return to his party, the demon lord meandered for awhile, Kagome slung over his shoulder. He debated the merits of keeping the woman as a travelling companion as he walked aimlessly. She had already proven herself quite incommodious, on top of being discourteous and obstinate. Anyone with any sort of desire for self-preservation would have kept their displeasure with Sesshomaru and his decisions to themselves, instead of attempting to dispute them. But here was this headstrong food of a woman challenging his authority within minutes of being conscious in his presence, and he had allowed that.
On top of that, he was finding himself intrigued by her, a feat that should have been impossible for a human to accomplish. She was courageous, albeit exceptionally imprudent. She was honorable, a trait Sesshomaru was certain no other human possessed. And, he had to admit to himself, she was something of an enigma. She hailed from a different time period, and if that wasn't strange enough, she then chose to spend her time traipsing through the past with some pathetic half demon who didn't even qualify as proper protection. And even then, despite the hanyou's shortcomings, she fell in love with him, all while he languished over some dead priestess that had bound him to a tree for fifty years.
Sesshomaru sighed to himself inwardly. He would never understand humans or their petty emotions. But now, thanks to this woman, he was dwelling on them as though he were curious, as if humanity had any business inside the private confines of his mind. If he had any sense at all, he would just rid himself of her and all the hassle she was bound to be if he allowed her to continue on with them. Who would know? He could dispatch her here, or throw her in the well or do whatever it was he pleased to liberate himself of her company, and no one would be the wiser. He could just tell Rin he arrived too late, and there was nothing he could do about it.
His eyes moved to the sword on his hip. Damned useless weapon. Rin was the only good the rusted thing ever managed. Here the Tensaiga was, hindering him yet again. Rin would know he was lying. She knew better than anyone the capabilities of his sword. The Demon Lord scoffed at his ridiculous line of thinking. He was Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands. He didn't answer to a ten year old. In fact, he could rid himself of Kagome and owe no one any explanation whatsoever.
It didn't matter, however. The inuyoukai's honor would not allow him to murder this woman while she was unconscious. If he did decide to dispatch her, she would be awake and facing him, weapon in hand. Unlike Naraku, he did not prey on the helpless.
His thoughts were disrupted by the burbling sound of running water. Up ahead, he could see a small stream shimmering golden in the sunlight. As he approached the rocky embankment, he could see that the slow-moving water was so clear that he could make out the smooth, stony bottom of the channel perfectly. The stream itself was wide and reasonably shallow, but deep enough for a person lying on their back to be almost completely covered by water. Well, the woman did need a bath. Taking no care to be gentle with her, he hefted Kagome over his shoulder and dropped her in the water, completely dousing her. For the second time this day, Kagome woke with a pounding headache.
"What did you do that for? That water is freezing!" she shouted angrily, jumping out of the frigid water instantly. Then, remembering the earlier events, surveyed her surroundings with confusion. "What happened?"
It was late in the afternoon, and evening was quickly approaching. The birds in the trees above her were twittering lethargically as the bright orange orb in the sky was beginning to make its routine descent. She was no longer in the bright clearing, fending off a lizard demon. Instead she was on the rocky banks of a wide stream with Sesshomaru who was towering over her disinterestedly.
"It would appear you cannot go a day without managing to lose consciousness at the most inopportune of times," Sesshomaru replied unsympathetically, trying to keep his annoyance with her out of her voice. It would not do for the female to learn that she could touch on his nerves.
Gingerly, she pressed a cold hand to her cheek, soothing the bruise where the demon had struck her, wincing a little. Kagome dipped her hand into the cold water and pressed it to her face a second time. She grimaced again, clutching her side carefully, when she realized her ribs were now bruised as well.
"Are you injured?" he inquired, trying to sound apathetic as his eyes roamed her body for any outward sign of injury that he had missed during his cursory examination. He hadn't discerned the pungent odor of fresh blood, but for some unknown reason, he found himself concerned, nonetheless.
"I'm just a little sore. I probably hurt myself worse last night," she answered him with a small, sheepish smile that caught him off guard. "Thank you for asking."
He stood there silently, watching her shiver, hugging her arms about herself for warmth. Her long dark tresses hung mussed about her face appealingly, curling at the ends slightly as they began to dry. Her short uniform was clinging to her curves inappropriately, and the white top, drenched with water, had become almost transparent. It was a sight that would have made a lesser man blush and rouse lust in even the most chaste. She was, by all means, an attractive woman, for a human.
Sesshomaru pushed the thought from his mind in disgust. She was a human and, therefore, undeserving of such thoughts. He would never stoop to his father's level. After all, he was a full blooded Youkai Lord of discerning tastes. When he took a mate, if the time ever came, she would not only be beautiful, but powerful as well.
Kagome, unaware of her appearance, was also watching Sesshomaru with an intense interest. The orange sunlight seemed to be tangled in his silver locks, making them glow luminously, and once again, Kagome was caught off guard by his beauty. His towering figure and noble mien coupled with his pale skin and elegant dress and markings were enough to take anyone's breath away. But, there was something about his eyes that Kagome was becoming infatuated with. For a moment, she wondered if it was because they reminded her of Inuyasha's familiar amber eyes, but that couldn't be it. They were cold and seemingly emotionless, yet not. There was something hidden beneath those limpid golden pools, something she couldn't put her finger on. Something she almost wanted to discover.
Sesshomaru caught her staring. It surprised him. She was not lowering her eyes in respect, but studying him. Should he be insulted that she was openly showing him such disrespect, or should he take her scrutiny as a compliment? He knew not. He realized that she was shivering uncontrollably and felt a twinge of guilt for throwing her into the freezing water. Immediately he shook the though from his head. He was becoming soft like his father, something he would prevent from occurring at all costs.
"If you feel you must collect the shards of the Shikon no Tama, you may do so. I now understand that it is a matter of your honor. Do not pursue a demon without informing me first. Nor shall you attempt to do battle with one without the proper weaponry. I do not like inconveniencing myself for your sake," he remarked calmly. He was disguising his anger with her well.
"Yes, thank you Sesshomaru-sama," she replied bowing her head. This action of hers also surprised him, though he did not show it. She was a strange woman, indeed, unlike any of the silly humans he had come across before. Although, she had the tendency to be foolish, it was over the well-being of others, not her own. At least, with this knowledge, he could feel secure in his choice of caretaker for his young ward. "If I may ask, why did you trouble yourself for my sake?"
"Rin would be sad to lose her companion," he stated succinctly as he began to walk in the direction of his vassals and away from the shivering woman. Kagome, grateful for her life, followed the Youkai Lord wordlessly.