InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cannot Be Broken ❯ Powers Condemned ( Chapter 21 )

Kagome sat in the darkness of the Hall. She didn't want anyone to talk to her. She didn't want anyone to see her. She felt dead inside. She couldn't even cry. There was nothing. This morning she had a life she knew and tonight she had a fate she didn't want. Her life was in danger. No, she didn't even have a life. She wondered if she was even human any more.

 

She felt sick. She hadn't eaten in over two days, and she refused to eat now. She neglected the food brought to her after her mother found her alone in the Great Hall and tried to give her food and drink. Eventually, Rin had also found it wise to leave her alone. Kikyo and Sesshomaru left a long while ago to discuss whatever. And InuYasha…InuYasha was nowhere. She couldn't feel him anywhere. And she realized then how strong their bond had become without her knowing. If she felt broken before he left her in the lurch, she felt destroyed now that he blocked himself from her.

 

Eventually she couldn't stay in the Hall any longer. It felt too open. She stood and walked tentatively out. She wasn't sure where to go. She kept walking until she found herself in the grand chambers. She cast her eyes around. She still couldn't believe what she was seeing.

 

Ever since InuYasha blocked his aura and Sesshomaru actively let his powers subside from her did her powers finally come to full bloom. Her vision took awhile to clear as the vibrant aura of life swallowed her. She didn't think she would ever get used to the brightness and sharp contrast of her new world. Nor did she think she would ever be able to control the flood of emotions from every living thing in her vicinity. Possibly why she chose to remain alone in the darkened Hall for so long.

 

She stood in the seemingly empty chambers and followed the one thing she allowed to call for her. Looking down, her heart automatically rocked in her chest. The form below her was brightened by the purest of white. She collapsed on her knees in wonderment to watch the small hanyou baby awaken and smile up at her with copper eyes. Kagome held out her hand to gingerly stroke the downy silver of the baby's head. Two tiny rounded dog-ears pulled back submissively and puppy/baby noises whimpered to her. Her breath caught as the boy, the new heir to the Western territory, beckoned to her with his aura. She shakily reached down and picked him up and sighed in amazement as his tiny frame relaxed against her. So naturally did his life force swallow into hers and then back into him, binding them as siblings and guardians for each other. She shook slightly. She could feel everything about him and she wanted nothing more than to protect him from everything that would cause him harm. Including her.

 

She hugged him gently to her and placed him back into his bassinet. Quietly she swept the soft tendrils from his forehead and eased serenity into his mind. He yawned and closed his eyes and drifted back into sleep. She turned her head into the darkness.

 

“I'm sorry. I just wanted to see him.” She whispered softly and sadly.

 

Sesshomaru did not reply but watched her stand and walk toward him. He led her out of his chambers. “You are still my daughter regardless. I trust you. Otherwise you would not be alive.”

 

The demon before her was surrounded by a formidable blue aura, but she did not fear him. Kagome's face hinted a smile. She could not explain why. Maybe it was just truly seeing her father for the first time. Oddly enough, his power felt familiar. She glanced up at him as they walked. “I see you as you truly are and I know your aura. You have never hid yourself from me.”

 

Sesshomaru cast his eyes down at her. “And what would I, the Lord Sesshomaru, need to hide from a girl?”

 

Kagome quirked her head. “You could have. You could do as Inu… InuYasha does now.” She ended in a whisper.

 

“InuYasha is a fool. He does not comprehend the repercussions of your link. But he does feel the withdrawal as you do.” His face was impassive.

 

“Otou… how do you know of all this?” She stopped and looked up at him. “How did you know what powers I had? How did you know how to subdue me? How do you know of this link between me and… him?”

 

Sesshomaru looked down at her, his eyes full of indescribable power. “Do you not sense it now?”

 

Kagome closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes. I do. But I've been ignoring it.” She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “What is it?”

 

He turned and walked down the long corridor.

She followed without a word and in silence they walked to the Great Hall, now lightened by massive candles. Sesshomaru stepped over to the large fireplace and he looked at her from the corner of his eye. Without warning he placed his hand into the fire.

 

Kagome yelped as she watched his blue light flicker in swirls of black as pain erupted in him. “Otou-san! Stop!”

 

Just as she spoke a mass of power erupted by his side and she saw his sword glow brighter than the sun and stars.

 

He withdrew his hand from the fire and placed it on the hilt of the sword. Just as he touched it, the pain in him faded and the blackness disappeared.

 

“The Tensaiga.” Kagome breathed in awe.

 

Sesshomaru tilted his head in acknowledgement. “The very power you contain in you, I also contain in this sword.”

 

“But… but that's a youkai sword! How is it possible?” Kagome gasped.

 

He turned to her. “The great demon whom this sword was made possessed powers beyond what was believed capable. But his powers were also limited. What powers he did control still lives on. His body and mind he placed within Tetsusaiga. His heart and soul he placed in Tensaiga. From his life essence does the Tensaiga have the capability to heal and restore life.” He looked deep into her eyes. “But it cannot fathom its purpose. It cannot understand its power. It is an object that lives only to suit its function.”

 

Kagome looked at him perplexed.

 

“Tensaiga has awareness. It is conscious. But it does not fulfill its function on its own. Its power is controlled by my youkai. And with it, I understand the power you control.” He unsheathed the living sword and held it for her to see. “I know your powers, for I have witnessed them from you at a young age. I understood them like no other, for it is the power I contain in this sword. Tensaiga is the power that allowed me to subdue you. For your power is the shared power of this sword.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “I… I don't understand.”

 

Sesshomaru held the sword to her. “Touch it.”

 

Kagome bit her lower lip and shook her head. “I'm afraid to.”

 

“Then you fear yourself.” He moved the sword closer to her.

 

Her breath shook and she tentatively reached out and graced her fingers on the shaft. A pulse of energy erupted around her, the sword and Sesshomaru as power withdrew from the sword into her. She shut her eyes as voices filled her head and emotions filled her heart. She quickly let go and jumped back. “What is that?!”

 

The demon lord sheathed Tensaiga and again returned it to his side. “A thousand lifetimes of being. This sword contains the power to see the border between life and death. What you had just witnessed was that border.”

 

Kagome's hand flexed, tingling from when she touched the sword. “What did it do to me?”

 

“It recognized you.”

 

“What?”

 

“You, like Tensaiga, walk on the border of life. The only difference is that you do not pass beyond it. Yet your power far surpasses that of Tensaiga.” He looked at her intently.

 

She shook her head. “No. You said so yourself. I cannot pass the border. I cannot bring others back to life.”

 

Sesshomaru's face hardened faintly. “I said you do not pass. Whether you can or not is up to you to find out. Tensaiga only manipulates the power because it can destroy the messengers that can pass beyond the borders. You, on the other hand, go beyond manipulation. You can stop them from crossing at all.”

 

“How do you know this?” Kagome whispered.

 

“Tensaiga told me. It can see you as you see all of us. We are not bodies and minds. To you and Tensaiga, we are living souls. Because of your shared awareness, it knows what you are capable of. And through Tensaiga, I know what you are capable of.”

 

“Then you have no reason to fear me?” She looked hopeful.

 

“No, Kagome, I have every reason to fear you.”

 

She shot her eyes to his. “But you can subdue me. With Tensaiga.”

 

Sesshomaru shook his head. “Only your vision of life and powers to heal could I mask from you, for they are the power of Tensaiga. It is linked to you in the way that all life is linked to each other. As life is unified in all living things, so to is the Tensaiga unified with you. I had made it conceal from you what you share, but only when you were within my domain could I do so.”

 

Kagome's body began to shudder. “Then how was… why did you think Inu… InuYasha could be able to…?”

 

Sesshomaru's face turned dark. “That is something that took great power to employ.”

 

“Otou?”

 

“The fangs that hang on the rosary are my own. And my own powers sanction it. However, the rosary did as I had not expected.”

 

“What?” She frowned.

 

“It linked you both.”

 

Kagome nodded. “Yes, you said it bound us so we could subdue each other….”

 

Sesshomaru's eyes grew a cold amber. “No. That was our intention. That is not what it did.”

 

Kagome tilted her head. She grew frightened.

 

“The miko had warned me of the possibility. Had I believed it was possible or not, it was, however, the only way.” He flashed his eyes down to hers.

 

“Kikyo told you… told you what?” Kagome asked shakily.

 

“Like my father had done for InuYasha, I had forged my powers as a means to suppress. Because of our shared youkai blood by our father, the rosary would subdue InuYasha's powers much like the Tetsusaiga. This would be possible since my youkai is stronger, being of the full blood line, thus it would dominate that of my brother's. The rosary was also to serve to contain your true powers. It was my link to you that would allow that to occur."

 

Kagome cast her gaze to the fire. “We… we have a link? But I am not your true daughter. I am not of your blood.”

 

Sesshomaru shook his head. “No, but you did bind your soul to my own.”

 

Her head swung towards him, her eyes wide.

 

“The moment I had picked you up from the remains of your village, you inadvertently bound your safety and life to me. Your powers chose me as your protector. My aura, my powers, instinctively became tied to yours, and it could not be broken. It was that link that caused the rosary to act as it did.” He studied her. “My youkai overpowered that of my half brother's, bringing his youkai into the rosary. And my soul did the same to you. As your protector, it dominated your powers and drew them into the rosary. But it was within the rosary that our link was finally severed.”

 

Kagome swallowed. “Go… go on.”

 

“I had given up my status as your protector when I had given you to InuYasha. My soul and youkai honour knew this and would have relinquished it to InuYasha. He would then have become your protector, and his youkai would attempt to protect you as mine had. But it did not. It was this that perplexed me.”

 

Kagome looked anywhere but at him. “But now you know?”

 

Sesshomaru nodded. “Yes. This is what the miko had warned me about. Kikyo had stated that this could have occurred had your soul bound itself differently when you had first met InuYasha.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “I do… don't understand.”

 

Sesshomaru growled. “The hanyou was to be your protector. That was my intention when I had given you to him. I was unaware of the emotional ties you both have shared. Too late had I realized, and already the rosary was instilled to you both.” He turned to her so that her focus had to be on him. “His youkai did not see you as his charge. He saw you as his mate. Your soul did not see him as your protector, your soul saw him as your core. With that, the powers did not control each other, but combined. You and he are now one.”

 

Kagome stumbled back. “For… for how long?”

 

Sesshomaru studied her. “For as long as you bind yourself to him.”

 

Kagome swallowed. “I… didn't know I had.”

 

Sesshomaru tilted his head in acknowledgement. “How could you have, when you did not know you could?”

 

She looked around the room. “What… exactly did I do… to you… to him?”

 

“That I am unsure.” The lord walked to the fire. “For what your powers decide to do, all others have no choice but to obey.”

 

“Then my soul wanted you to raise me, and you had to? My soul wanted him as a mate? And he… had no choice but to feel that way about me? You both had no choice?” Kagome paled.

 

“Whether that is the case or not, I feel it was my free will that allowed you to do so. Even now, our link is dissolved, and I still consider you my own. As for InuYasha, I am not aware his motives from the start, but his youkai would not bind you so readily to him if there were nothing there from the beginning. You are still his mate regardless.”

 

Kagome lowered her head. “He does not see me as his mate any longer.”

 

She jumped back with the snarl that erupted from the demon lord. “If that is what you think, you are as foolish as he is.”

 

Kagome looked up angrily. “I… I… feel it! He shut himself away from me and I felt his hatred. Even now he is closed from me.”

 

“But you still feel him.” Sesshomaru growled.

 

Kagome looked away from his penetrating gaze. “No. I don't.”

 

“Why do you lie?” He pulled her chin to look up at him. “The pain you feel. The bitter brokenness. You do not feel that?”

 

Kagome looked at him shocked. “How do you know this?”

 

His eyes narrowed. “This, Sesshomaru, knows.” With that he turned from her and walked out of the Hall, leaving two stunned innocents watching him go.

 

****

 

The next morning the snow fell in soft flakes. Kagome sat against a stone banister and watched it gather around her. Beyond was the training field. Inu and wolf youkai competed in games of strength and stamina. Several young youkai tried to get her attention by throwing snow balls in her direction, but she did not notice. It was not until a shadow passed over her did she finally look up.

 

“Kouga.” She smiled faintly.

 

Kouga crouched to look level at her, his eyes remorseful. “Kagome, I….”

 

Kagome shook her head. “You were following my father's orders. I know that now.”

 

“No, I mean….” He cringed and whispered. “I mean, about what I did during that.”

 

Kagome blushed. “Kouga, you're my best friend, please understand….”

 

Kouga shook his head. “No, Kagome, a lot has happened since you've been gone.” He sighed. “I just got possessive, is all, we have a history, you're my best friend and… Kagome, I'm promised to Ayame.”

 

Kagome shot her eyes to his. “What? Really? How? When?”

 

Kouga smiled. “Yeah, she's really great. Massive temper, but she's feisty as you are. And… well… she's….”

 

“Yours?” Kagome smiled.

 

Kouga looked at her and grinned. She always managed to understand him no matter what. “Mine.” He agreed. “So… you forgive me?”

 

Kagome smiled. “Kouga, what are friends for?”

 

He smiled and looked a bit shy.

 

Kagome stood and he followed suite. They began to walk together along the paths of the manor, chatting and laughing over little things that had gone on while she was gone, or things they remembered them doing when they were children.

 

“Ayame's very lucky to finally have snagged the great Kouga.” Kagome grinned as she leaned against the manor's wall.

 

The wolf youkai grinned. “Yeah, she's pretty fast if she could catch me.”

 

Kagome laughed. “So next summer, will I be seeing any pups?”

 

Kouga blushed. “I dunno. Yeah, maybe.”

 

Kagome laughed. She felt genuinely happy as she looked up at him. She hugged him. “I'm very happy, Kouga, for the both of you.”

 

A loud growl shook the air around them. Kagome turned to see an enraged hanyou storm over to them. Kagome looked up at Kouga and she groaned.

 

“InuYasha….” She started to reason.

 

“Shut the fuck up!” He snarled and charged the wolf demon. “I'm giving you a head start before I kill you. Now run.”

 

Kouga smirked. “Dog shit. Still a pup I see. Maybe I can show you how to get things done.”

 

Kagome's mouth dropped and she rounded on Kouga. “I don't give a shit if it's male posturing or not. That was uncalled for! Now get the fuck out of here or Ayame will be having pups from another since you won't have the balls to even mount her!”

 

Kouga paled at the rejoinder Kagome unleashed. His mouth dropped and he was about to complain until he saw the exasperated look on her face. He smirked and winked at her and ran off towards the training field.

 

Kagome sighed and turned to InuYasha. “ As for you….”

 

Her words were wrenched out of her when his clawed hand grabbed her arm and hoisted her over his shoulder. He leapt out and over the manor's outer walls to the small forest beside it. He pushed her off his shoulder onto the snow rather harshly.

 

Kagome landed on her rear hard. She glared up at him angrily but paled at the red she saw flickering in his eyes. “InuYasha?”

 

He snarled. “You smell of him.”

 

Kagome's mouth dropped. She sniffed herself and frowned. She didn't smell anything unusual. Before she could protest, he grabbed her and began to rub snow all over her clothes and face. He growled profusely.

 

Kagome sputtered as snow got in her mouth. “InuYasha, what the hell? He's mated to Ayame now. He's not a threat to you.”

 

InuYasha stalled but then continued to rub snow on her, harder this time.

 

She tried to push him away, ignoring his snarling protests. “Why the fuck do you care anyways? You said I was nothing to you! You're just around to protect me! You hate me, remember?”

 

InuYasha growled in fury and pushed her hard on the ground. He towered over her. “You're right, Bitch. Why am I caring? It's not like I know who or even what the fuck you are. All I know is that what we had…means nothing….” He turned and walked away.

 

Kagome jumped up. “What do you mean nothing? How can you say that?”

 

He turned to her, his eyes burning her with malice. “It's just what you are. It's how you protect yourself.”

 

Kagome's face grew red from her fury. “And what am I?”

 

InuYasha walked slowly to her. His face was hard and a spiteful leer spread across it. “You… are a thing.”

 

Kagome stepped back in shock.

 

“A thing that makes those around you feel they need you, want you, have to protect you and love you. You are a lie.”

 

Tears erupted from the back of her eyes, and she fought hard to keep them from falling. “Why are you saying this?” She rasped in disbelief.

 

“Because. Who in their right mind would love a girl the moment he saw her? Who would cast all to the side and claim her as his mate the day he met her? Who would challenge his enemy and give everything he had to him to win this girl? Who would take this girl and want her still after she constantly tore him down over and over, never once letting him know the very power she possessed. Only someone who was manipulated and controlled by a damned miko child who can't even keep her own two feet on the ground.” He towered over her again. “Well, your control over me has ended, Bitch.”

 

“I… I don't…understand.” Kagome backed up from him.

 

He followed closely. “I heard enough yesterday. I know enough of what you can do. You can control auras. You can manipulate my aura to bring me at ease. Hell, you even joined your soul to the greatest demon lord around so he would raise you, and you were an orphaned whelp close to death when you did that. I even know your soul made me want to mate you.”

 

Kagome's back collided with a tree. She looked up at him. “You heard what he told me last night?”

 

“Enough. Enough that I can't totally blame you.” InuYasha turned his face down and pressed his body close to hers. “You can't help what you are. You can't help that your soul controls those around you. It's what you do. It's what you are. And now some abomination wants to take you and suck you dry to become some master demon. Well, let me just say, you're like a package tied all up in pretty string, just waiting to be taken.”

 

Kagome's breath hitched in her throat. “No… I won't….”

 

“Be taken?” InuYasha chuckled. “Oh how I am sick of hearing that.”

 

Tears streamed down her face and she bit back. “Then why are you here? Go home! What's it to you what happens to me?”

 

InuYasha growled fiercely in her ear. “Stop crying.”

 

Kagome shook her head, fighting hard against the tears and losing horribly. “Go home, if that is what you want, InuYasha!”

 

He thrusted up against her body. “And that's what pisses me off most. I can't go. I don't know why. Honour bound or not. I WANT to protect you. I NEED to protect you. So tell me, Kagome, why do I feel this?”

 

Kagome's chest heaved in tormented breaths. “I don't know….”

 

He snarled hotly in her ear. “Don't you?”

 

“I'm not doing anything! I swear!” Kagome sobbed against his hot chest.

 

InuYasha grabbed her and crushed her hard against him. “Stop crying!”

 

Kagome tried to push him off her but he held strong. “I swear I'm not doing anything.” She whispered.

 

InuYasha's claws dug into her back. “How can I believe you? After all that you've kept from me?”

 

Kagome yelled out in pain. “I was afraid! I thought you would push me away. I thought you would think I was… was a …freak!” She sobbed from pain, both physical and emotional, both from her and from him.

 

InuYasha's mouth swept over her neck. He nipped at it. “How easily this can be ended. How easily you can be ended.”

 

Kagome's eyes widened. “Don't… please don't.”

 

InuYasha growled against her throat, his fangs skimming down her life vein. “What are you afraid of? You can push me away so easily. Why don't you use your powers?”

 

Kagome swallowed. “I can't….”

 

“Hmm…right, the necklace. You're afraid of what will happen to you.” He lifted his face to stare mockingly into her tear stained eyes.

 

Kagome stared wide-eyed into his. “No.” She said. “I'm afraid what will happen… to you.”

 

His eyes turned liquid hot. “And why do you care what will happen to me? After all this bloody time, why do you care?”

 

Kagome shook her head. “I….”

 

InuYasha shook her slightly. “Tell me for once in your gods damned life!”

 

Kagome gripped his shoulders hard trying to push him away. “You hate me….” She whispered.

 

“TELL ME!” He twined his fingers into her dark hair and thrusted her face up to look at his.

 

Kagome's mouth opened in aching appeal and her eyes again filled with hot tears. “Because….” Her voice broke.

 

“Because?” He gripped her head harder with her hair. “For the love of all gods, please tell me!”

 

Kagome's tears flowed heavily. Never taking her eyes from his, she choked. “Because… I love you.”

 

InuYasha crashed his mouth down hard on hers and kissed her until her mouth was tender and bruised. He let her go roughly and turned on his heal and leapt to the trees and she lost sight of him.