InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Blessed Curse ❯ The Understanding ( Chapter 9 )

~ Blessed Curse ~

By: Youkai Yume

Yume: Hello, long time no see! On this fic, that is. . .

CF: {yawn} Must Yume wake CF now? CF was having a nice nap!

Yume: yeah, welsh nap's over, and it's time for us to go back to the fanfics!

CF: Ack, puppies are nibbling on my toes at the moment, but it's all good.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha's not mine. Beauty and the Beast's not mine. These socks that I'm wearing aren't mine either. And this {holds out wad of cash} is definitely not mine. Like that's gonna stop me from using them for my own selfish reasons!

Act 9: The Understanding

Never before had she seen him so angry. Sesshomaru was one to be calm, collected, and one who never loses his cool. But the Sesshomaru she had just seen. . .fists clenched, golden eyes bleeding crimson red, fangs bared, and rage seethed through every bit of his aura. Even his voice and hot breath that she still felt on her skin lingered of his anger.

He finally looked like the youkai she had perceived him to be. . .and it scared the hell out of her. It seemed that all the breath had been taken out of her, and all she could remember was how terribly frightening he was. And now, she ran, panting heavily, and slender legs sprinted down the stairs. Only one thought resounded in her head, `Get away from HIM!'

Aki and Jaken were at the base of the stairs, staring wide-eyed when they saw the miko coming down the steps. Kagome ran past them in a blur of green and white. The badger watched with panick-stricken eyes as she called out for Kotori to give her a coat.

"MILADY! Where are you going?" He exclaimed. Kagome said nothing, her frame shaking like mad, and when Kotori returned with a large Gi shirt, she gave Kagome a questioning look.

"Kagome-sama?" The miko still would not say anything.

"KIRARA!" She shouted into the echoing castle, and in a moment's time, the little fire cat was beside her. She took her into her arms and ran to the door. Kotori widened her eyes in surprise, and glanced over at Jaken and Aki, who only shrugged.

"Kagome-sama, what's going on?" Kagome gave them an apologizing look, and bit her lower lip as she refrained from letting threatening tears fall from her eyes.

"I can't keep my promise. . .I'm sorry, but I can't bear to stay here any longer with HIM!" And with those last words, she ran out of the door, shattering the servant's hopes for their lord's salvation.

~*~*~*~

The wind was harsh and bitter against her skin, and Kagome couldn't help but shiver under the winter chill. Kirara's flaming paws were brighter than usual, and melted the snow under her feet with each leap that she took. Kagome knew that what she did didn't feel right, but she also felt like she had no other choice.

Her heart tore inside her at the sudden fact that she had broken a promise. She had every intention of fulfilling it, but. . .the way he had looked at her, with such rage and anger. Kagome didn't know if she would be able to find it in herself to look at him the same way again. She herself never really feared him. . .until now.

But no matter how much she convinced herself of her own selfish reasons, she felt like she had failed Sesshomaru, or let him down. `In what? He just wanted to use me as bait!' Still, when she recalled the way he looked at her when he showed her around the castle earlier, there was something in his gaze that told her that she did indeed let him down in something. And it ran deeper than his petty feud for Tetsusaiga.

Kagome held on tighter as Kirara sprinted through the sparkling white forest. What's done is done, and there was no way she'd turn back now. Her fingers closed around the Gi that she used for her jacket. Kagome mentally chided herself for being so hasty in her departure that she had forgotten her backpack.

The forest grew darker, and the aura more menacing. Kagome shuddered at the feeling, and it wasn't because she was cold. Her hand went to grasp the incomplete jewel around her neck, and she closed her eyes. That was when she felt it, the presence of another Shikon shard.

A low growl formed in Kirara's throat, and Kagome stroked her fur at hearing the sound.

"I feel it too," She whispered worriedly. "Something's coming. Something with jewel shards!"

As soon as she had said the words, a dark, looming shadow crashed through the trees, sending them falling to the ground. Kagome let out a surprised scream as Kirara jumped out of the way. It growled threateningly at the hyena youkai that now stood before them.

Kagome gasped, and instinctively reached behind her back for some arrows, when. . . `Shit! I forgot all my stuff---including my bows and arrows back at the castle!' She looked frantically around her for a weapon, while the youkai began to carefully circle her. It's eyes glazed over with hunger bloodlust.

The miko could feel the fur on Kirara's back bristling, and looked fearfully up at the hyena. Within the blink of an eye, it had snarled "Shikon," and lunged forward at her at lightning speed.

She closed her eyes, biting her lower lip from screaming, and waiting for its' piercing claws and fangs. A load roar can be heard, and she cracked open her blue orbs to see Kirara in a blazing ball of fury, and fighting it off.

"Fool!" The hyena growled out, and dodging as Kirara took a swipe at it.

"Yeah! That's the way to go, Kirara!" Kagome cheered, as the fire neko growled ferociously at the slightly wounded youkai. She ran beside her, and placed a supporting hand on Kirara, grasping onto the Shikon around her neck with her other.

To her surprise, the youkai did not retreat, but chuckled low in its' throat. Gleaming red eyes flashed dangerously at her.

"Stupid human," It sneered, "It'll take more than that!"

Kagome swallowed. `What does it mean by that?' Kirara growled beside her once more, and she watched in horror as the hyena youkai threw its' ugly head backwards and yipped and howled into the night air. Its' call could be heard for miles around, she was sure. . .and it was that knowledge that made her very nervous.

Her senses were suddenly sharper than usual, and she almost jumped a feet in the air when she heard the rustling of some nearby bushes and the crunch of snow nearby. Kagome's eyes darted around the clearing, and everywhere she looked---from every shadow and tree, she saw glowing crimson eyes staring back at her.

`Oh, freak!' She screamed in her mind. It had called for its' kin.

"ATTACK!" The main one shouted, and in black and brown blurs, they had all leapt toward the unarmed miko and her fire neko. Kagome screamed in fright, willing her miko powers to form a barrier for protection. But it wasn't until now that she felt the full extent of her numb and cold body, and her body suddenly felt drained of energy. The Gi shirt wasn't enough to keep her warm. . .

As the sea of hyenas closed around her, she heard the sound of Kirara's footprints and roars. She was fighting them off by herself. And luckily for her, at the same time, the fiery blaze from her body was warming her up at the same time.

"Kirara!" She called out, but when she had opened her eyes again, she saw the fire neko being tied up by several chains. Apparently the hyenas had chained her up, and now she was practically defenseless. `Oh, you're screwed now, Higurashi!' She thought, and mustering as much of her miko powers as possible, made a blast at a nearby hyena that was about to take a bite at Kirara.

"Uh. . ." She moaned out in slight pain. With the little energy that she had, making a small blast like that took a lot out of her. `But I have to keep this up, or else Kirara and I will be finished!'

~*~*~*~

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Aki called out in surprise when he saw the Taiyoukai storm down the steps. His eyes were locked straight ahead, while his thoughts were locked in silent resolve.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" He called out again, "The miko has left the castle!" Sesshomaru only growled in return, sending them a cold, golden glare that said, `I know.' Aki and Jaken stopped in their tracks when they saw him go towards the front doors, and their eyes widened in realization and hope.

"Sesshomaru-sama, are you. . .?" He looked over his shoulder at them, and as he pushed the door open, the cold wind blew in, leaving only a sliver silhouette of him.

"I'm going to retrieve what is mine," His voice said simply, and almost instantly, he was gone.

~*~*~*~

A strong snow storm had started up again, and Sesshomaru grimaced at the bitter winds that pricked at his flawless face. Though it didn't bother him much, since he was now hanyou the cold weather did affect him somewhat. However, he pushed all thoughts from his mind and focused only on HER.

Something turned inside of him when he saw her eyes flash with complete and utter terror in that one moment of lost control. The way her lips were parted in a mute scream, face pale and void of her usual pinkish blush, and her sapphire orbs widened with fear.

He had never seen her look at him that way. . .ever. Not even when he had tried to kill her the first time. And seeing it now. ..he didn't understand why, but it pained him. He shook his head. No, she was merely a means to an end, and he simply COULD NOT afford to lose her now.

Besides, she had made a promise to him that she'd remain in his castle forever. So that made her HIS. He growled softly when Kagome's scent became stronger with each step, and in the near distance, he saw her weak and tired form trying to fend off a pack of hyena youkai from harming the fire youkai.

`Admirable,' he thought, `But she will not last much longer.' With that thought in mind, he used the full potential of his `hanyou' speed to reach her.

"AHHHHHH!" She screamed when a hyena found a perfect opening to attack, but before his hangs could rip into her flesh, it was violently thrown aside in a silver and gold blur. Surprised eyes gazed into the face of her rescuer, who had his eyes bleeding crimson red, and fangs bared at the youkai.

"Filthy scum!" He growled in a threatening voice that sent shivers down all of their spines, "Do not touch what is mine!"

"Sesshomaru. . ." Kagome whispered in disbelief. `He came for me. . .' She watched in a dazed state as he slayed the youkai one by one. Coming back to her senses, she turned to Kirara and worked on undoing its' chains. When she had struggled, and freed the neko from her bondage, she turned back to see Sesshomaru in trouble.

A couple of the youkai had managed to land heavy blows on him, especially his left side, which was beginning to bleed profusely. Not to mention, now that he was a hanyou, she noticed that he was moving a lot slower than usual.

The taiyoukai flinched as his wound throbbed at his side. He spotted the leader of their pack nearing him, circling the demon lord as if he was its' prey. Crimson eyes narrowed. `Fool, you are MY prey. . .' When if finally leapt at him he dodged it easily, and was about to strike back at it, when his eyes widened in realization. Its' prey was not him, but the girl that was behind him.

`Kagome. . .' Her eyes widened in shock, and she raised her arms to block herself instinctively. In a burst of speed that he didn't even realize he possessed, he had shot forward and penetrated his claws through it's stomach.

It gave out a sickening howl, and fell limply in his hands before disintegrating into the winter air. The other youkai, seeing as their leader had been destroyed, retreated into the shadows in a hasty departure, yipping and howling as they left.

Kagome's voice was lost as she continued to stare up at the demon lord that had just saved her life. He was panting heavily, and his crimson eyes slowly faded into gold once more. His claws were still extended in the position that he had slain the youkai, and now, all he did was gaze back at her.

"Sesshomaru. . ." She called out softly, and in one instant, she saw worry and guilt flash across his depths. That was before his vision blurred over, and he collapsed into unconsciousness from his flesh wound---right into her arms. "Oh, Sesshomaru-sama. . ." Kagome whispered guiltily.

Her sapphire eyes watched his still form as his silver hair and white snow slowly became tainted with the red of his blood, and she bit her lower lip. `He saved me. . .' The earlier vision of his fearsome face vanished in her mind, and all that was left was the vulnerable, taiyoukai that slept in her arms.

Kirara nudged her from behind, and she glanced back at her. She knew very well that she could just escape right now, and be free from all this! But. . .when she gazed once more to his peaceful face, her heart wrenched. `No, I will not leave him,' She thought with resolution. Brushing his bangs from his face she moved him momentarily to rip off a piece of her Gi shirt.

Her numb fingers tied it around his waist for a makeshift bandage, and she motioned for Kirara to help her lift him onto her back. `I owe him,' Kagome's mind whispered, `and I will keep my promise. . .' As she silently rode back to the castle, with Sesshomaru's head gently cradled against her chest, she begun to go into her own musings.

`How lonely it must be. . .' She wondered, `to be in that huge castle, all by yourself. Even when you're surrounded by others. . .' She gazed down at his sleeping face and inwardly smiled. Perhaps that was why he kept Rin, kept HER. Perhaps the taiyoukai was simply lonely. Or perhaps she was just reading too much into his behavior.

Still. Hugging his body closer for warmth when a strong wind blow, she heard him mumble something that sounded oddly like "sweet" in his sleep. Kagome smiled, and made another vow.

`I will stay with you, Sesshomaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. . .until you forget this feeling of loneliness. . .'

~*~*~*~

His mind swam in a dark haze, and he couldn't make sense of anything. The last thing he remembered was Kagome's shocked face as he hovered above her upon the rescue. But that was all he remembered. Now, he was only conscious of one thought, and that was the sweet, intoxicating scent that tickled his nose.

"Sweet," he mumbled sleepily. Everything was so cold, but as long as he hung onto that scent, he knew he'd be alright. It seemed so long before he felt warmth, and when he did, his whole body felt like it was coming out of a frozen position.

Eyes blinked into the world around him, and golden eyes met sapphire when they opened all the way.

"You're alright. . ." Kagome smiled in relief. Sesshomaru steadily sat up, and realized he was in his futon. `How'd I get here?' But then realized that she must've taken him back. This mildly surprised him, for he had expected her to just run off and leave him to die in the snow.

But he did not let it show.

"You shouldn't move!" Kagome chided in concern when he grimaced noticeably upon his efforts to sit up.

"Wench, do not tell this Sesshomaru what to do," He bit back. She glared at him.

"I think I liked you better when you were unconscious," She mumbled. He would've said something back at that rude remark when a loud,

"SESSHOMARU-SAMA!" broke the silence, and an ecstatic Rin burst through the door and flew straight at him. Her small arms clutched at his torso in a death grip, and a sharp pain went through his side upon the embrace. However, he didn't have the heart to pry the child away.

Kagome could see the obvious pain he was in, and pulled Rin off.

"Now Rin, you have to be careful. Sesshomaru-sama's injured, remember?" The child covered her mouth and bowed her apologies.

"Gomen, Sesshomaru-sama! Rin forgot!" She said rather quickly.

"It's okay, Rin." Kagome motioned for the little girl to settle herself by the fireplace. Sesshomaru looked to the side to see that Nira was also present in his room, and came to Kagome's side with a pot of hot water, pouring it into a basin next to his futon.

"Why are they here?" He said coldly, causing Kagome to look at him tiredly.

"They---we, were worried about you," She answered softly. He nodded stoically at her, and his hand went to touch the wound of his suffering. He grimaced.

"Yeah, it's about time to change that. . ." Kagome said nervously, and she reached out to untie the bandages. He stopped her.

"Human what do you think you are doing?"

"Changing your bandages?" She answered obviously. He gave her a rather annoyed look.

"This Sesshomaru does not need human treatment. I will heal on my own." That was when Kagome's anger flared, and she stood up in anger.

"THAT'S IT! This Sesshomaru this, This Sesshomaru that! Stop being so stuck up and let me help you!" Sesshomaru's own anger climbed, and he felt a sudden need to prove himself.

"Well, you wouldn't have to `help' me if you hadn't run away in the first place, wench!" Kagome looked at him in pure anger. `How dare he!?'

"Well if you hadn't scared the living daylights outta me, I wouldn't have run away!" Sesshomaru froze, for once running out of a comeback until a sudden thought popped into his brain.

"Onna, you shouldn't have been in the West Wing in the first place." It was Kagome's turn to freeze. He was right there, but. . .

"Yeah, well for someone who's supposedly cool and collected all the time, you should've controlled your temper!"

Nira and Rin looked on with shocked expressions. No one had ever talked to their master that way, but. . .well, Kagome wasn't like the others.

Ha! She had won, and Kagome cheered in the back of her mind when she saw him sigh and turn away. In one swift cut, he had torn the bandages away with his claw, revealing the gash to her.

He closed his eyes, in what she knew to be a sulking manner. Kagome exhaled, and dipped a piece of cloth into the basin of water beside her. Squeezing it dry, she glanced nervously up at the wound, and gently dabbed at it.

Sesshomaru flinched, growling a bit at the contact. She drew back, afraid that she had hurt him, but continued anyway.

"Gomen ne, Sesshomaru-sama," She whispered. "I truly am, I should be thanking you. . ." His eyes opened to gaze in mild surprise at the miko, who avoided his gaze. "So, thanks, Sesshomaru-sama."

His golden stare softened as he continued to stare in confusion down at her. How she infuriated him so! Frustrated him to no ends, and now. . .now she was so gentle and warm towards him. . .kind and meek in her caress and soft in her tone of voice.

"Your welcome," He said stoically, causing Kagome---as well as Rin and Nira to look at him in surprise. She blushed a pretty pink, and smiled sheepishly at him. The single act alone, stirred something within him, but it did not matter. . .it felt nice.

~End Chapter ^_^

Yume: How tedious it feels when I wrote this chapter! It's probably full of typos too, But I'm just too lazy to go throughit. . .Oh wells. Bite my lazy ass, lolz!

CF: Oh welsh, at least the fluff finally begins!

Yume: Okay, review and as usual no flames please!

IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL OF MY FORGETMENOT FANS!

It seems that I won't be able to update until TUESDAY at the very latest. Why? I'll be away on a two-day trip, so please hang on!

Review Response:

~Fanfiction.net

inuyasha-luver3; blah-girl-bored2death; AnimeFan13; Eidolon Griffin; kaeko; Noir12; scorpiochick103; Roko the Fox Hanyou; vixon; KawaiiLil-InuGurl; MoonlightPrincess; I Stalk Sesshomaru on weekends; kairinu; flare2; Defafeath Mechqua; SilentDark; ChIbIMiDNiGhT-SaKaI; ash-chan; BlackShadow1388; DarkFire77; ladihouki; Lady Kagome-Fluffy's gurl; bloodbunny; lone-black-tiger; CreSentMoOn99; Lady Kaela, THANKS FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT!

Narani the Demoness: Thanks for all the support! I'm glad you like, and be happy with this chapter!

Fbi-angel-03: A flame is an extremely mean review, where the reader insults the author with a variety of mean blows, and most of the time leaves you absolutely no idea of what you did wrong.

AnImEfReAk81: Yes, very tedious indeed, but think of how fun that would've been!

Lilfrozenfire: Thanks for the compliment, I certainly try, and yes. I think it's safe to say that I'm a BIG fan of Beauty and the Beast! Lolz.

Familai-Ficz: Sure! Take all the muffins you want in the world! And as for the whole muse problem, you can borrow CF any kind! Or. . .(gives you an egg) It'll hatch into something wonderful! (a muse!) I can say in advance that it's going to be a chibi neko youkai! You can name it anything you want, use her or not, is fine by me! This is the way I got CF from Striking Falcon. ^_^

Reaper Chibi-chan: I never really thought of this fic as a parody, but okay! Um the lion king challenge ^_^;

Kiwi93089: Okay, um Naraku. . .hehe. If you take control of CF, I'm pretty sure she'll just drive you nuts.

Mistress Fluffy: I know, I've been waiting forever for her update as well.

DarkPyroPlanet: S'okay, I can live without pickles for a while. Don't worry, the dancing part will come in soon! Lolz.

~Mediaminer.org

bloodroseblade; ice princess 1185; THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!

Awaikage: Thanks for the offer! I'll be sure to call you when a flame comes round.

Striking Falcon: Yup, she works like a charm! CF sends you hugs and kisses (chocolate kisses) lolz.

END NOTE!

Yume: Thanks for every one of your reviews, so make sure you do that right now, and no flames!

~Ja Ne! ^_~