InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Coming of Age ❯ 5 ( Chapter 5 )

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Kagome winced as Inuyasha's claws scraped her slightly when he was dislodged from her. Her eyes met Kouga's and she stood perfectly still, looking up at him. "I'd die before I mated with you." She said softly.

He grinned ferally. "That's what I had in mind, pet..." He lifted his claws, preparing to rip through her flesh.

She closed her eyes, cringing back as she heard the claws whistle through the air.

They never touched her.

A sword blocked the downward path, and Kagome slowly opened her eyes.

A silver-haired demon stood before her, between herself and the wolf demon. But it wasn't Inuyasha.

No, it wasn't Inuyasha, because this demon wasn't wearing a haori and hakama colored in red. No. It wasn't Inuyasha. Inuyasha didn't have a fluffy thing thrown over his shoulder.

Everyone stared at the demon that had saved Kagome in shock, but Inuyasha was the only one who could find it in him to say the demon's name.

"Sesshoumaru...?"

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Coming of Age
By: Demonsaya

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5

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Yes, it was indeed the hanyou's very own unpredictable, full demon brother, who everyone save Inuyasha and the demon himself had nicknamed 'Fluffy' in their minds. Gold eyes were flecked with annoyance as he straightened, easily shaking the wolf-demon's clawed grip off his sword. He glanced towards his brother, arching a fine eyebrow. "You are even more of an idiot than this Sesshoumaru thought, Inuyasha..." He said evenly, his eyes turning towards his brother, then towards his brother's human mate.

Kagome blinked, taking a step back from Sesshoumaru, her eyes wide.

Kouga snarled, glaring at the girl behind the great demon. "Get out of my way, I'm trying to punish my bitch!" He moved closer to Sesshoumaru, making like he was going to push around him.

Sesshoumaru lifted his hand, punching the demon so hard he went flying back and into a tree. Quite litterally. Everyone winced as Kouga struggled to get out of the new hole that he'd made in the trunk.

Inuyasha climbed to his feet, walking towards his brother. He merely looked at him, not trusting his brother entirely, and very unsure of what he was doing here. Inuyasha hadn't smelled him. Perhaps he was traveling downwind of them...? Did that mean-? "Why?" He asked. In one word, he summed up all of his questions.

Sesshoumaru turned a bit, fixing his brother with a disturbingly neutral expression. Then, his eyes turned towards Kagome. "How much did this Sesshoumaru's bastard brother tell you?"

"Tell me about what?!" Kagome asked, her eyes narrowing.

A dark look flashed over the demon's face and suddenly he was upon Inuyasha his hand wrapped around the demon's throat. "Did you tell her the consequences of that mark?" His eyes narrowed as his brother's claws dug into the back of his hand. "Did you even ask her first?"

Inuyasha squirmed a bit, unable to speak as his air supply had been officially cut off. He dug his claws into his older brother's hand and forced himself to speak. For his AND Kagome's sake. "Of course...I asked her..."

The taiyoukai frowned briefly then dropped his hanyou brother.

Kagome ran towards her mate, wrapping her arms protectively around him. "Inuyasha!" She glared up at Sesshoumaru, a protective feeling coming up so quickly it surprised her. "What on earth are you talking about? What consequences?"

Sesshoumaru saw the confusion on the girl's face reflected on Inuyasha's and turned to Myouga, his face darkening further. "This Sesshoumaru should kill you here and now, flea..." A pause. "It was your job to make them aware of all the consequences, and you couldn't even do that right!?"

Myouga cowered away from the great demon. "I'm sorry, m'lord, Inuyasha didn't really give us much of a chance..."

"He should have been told YEARS AGO!" One hand smashed Myouga paper thin. Then he turned back towards Inuyasha, a disapproving look on his face. “I don't like that you've mated with her without knowing everything...so evidentally it falls upon this Sesshoumaru to explain...”

'Damn...and I'd hoped he would just save me and go away...' Kagome thought idly as they headed to fina a place that was not so open, where the taiyoukai could explain a few of the finer points of the mating ritual to them.

“Start off by telling this Sesshoumaru how much you know about demon mating...?”

Inuyasha growled softly. “Just what ofukuro told me. The flea told me how to mark, that was it.”

“So...next to nothing. You have no idea how you've affected her lifespan? What happens to the remaining mate when a mate dies, and the pack responsibilities?”

The hanyou stared at the great demon with a blank expression on his face.

The demon made a tisking sound and found a nice, well guarded clearing. He sat gracefully upon the ground and watched as the hanyou, kitsune, and humans joined him. Kirara paced at the edge of the treeline, as though restless.

“I'll start with the easy part.” Sesshoumaru said wearily. “You...” He pointed at Inuyasha. “Are the alpha male in your pack.” He gestured to the others. “This has been established for awhile, you are the leader, you are in charge. She...” He pointed at Kagome. “Is your mate, which makes her alpha female, which means she leads when you are incapacitated. Considering you mate is a human...it might be wise to ask her opinion before running headlong into battle, because of how it will affect her.”

Kagome saw Inuyasha about to open his mouth and simply shook her head at him, singnaling his silence. “Please continue?”

Sesshoumaru glanced at her briefly. “Your lifespan is probably one of the biggest changes you'll have to deal with. Now that you have demon blood flowing through your veins, however small the amount, you shall share Inuyasha's lifespan. You will age together, at the same rate, till you grow old, and then you'll both die, probably at the same time.

Kagome smiled and glanced at Inuyasha. “I think I like that part.”

“Immortality is not as simple as it seems. Most humans go insane from living so long.”

The girl tilted her head, frowning at the Taiyoukai. “Are you saying that I'm 'most humans'? Becaues I can assure you I'm not. Most humans would never have agreed to mate with a hanyou, and most humans would have cowered in terror when the demon they just freed tried to kill them to get a stupid jewel.” She brushed a bit of dirt off her skirt. “'Most humans' in this era is a prejudiced majority who are scared of demons and treasure their mortal lives so much that they probably fake insanity just so they'll be put out of their misery.”

Sesshoumaru examined the girl with a new amount of respect, then turned towards Inuyasha, a ghost of a smile on his face. “This Sesshoumaru approves of your mate.”

Inuyasha felt a growl rumble out of his chest. “As if I care if you approve...” He glared in a different direction.

“To why this Sesshoumaru protected your mate...” He gave Inuyasha firm look. “If she'd been killed, you would have likely lost control on your demon blood, Tetsusaiga or not, and slaughtered everything in the area. I can't be certain. Humans and youkai have different reactions to such things. If the youkai was the one to die, usually the human would follow, barring any responsibilities on the humans part, such as pups.” He fixed Inuyasha with a glare.

Inuyasha looked away. “Like with my mom?” He asked softly.

“Indeed. It's uncertain why such things happen. I have heard speculation that the human emotions kill the human mate. Usually, even if the mate has pups to protect, they are overwhelmed by their own grief.” He fixed Inuyasha with a firm glare. “Which means if you wish for your mate to survive, you're going to learn how to fight, and to fight well, or you will be killed when you are fighting Naraku, and then your mate will die as well.”
Kagome swallowed hard.

Inuyasha fisted his hands on his knees. “What makes you so certain that I'll die in the fight against Naraku?” He asked softly.

“Inuyasha, this Sesshoumaru is aware of the lengths that you are willing to go for that girl. I have seen them myself. I remember you learned the secret to Tetsusaiga's transformation because of your desire to protect her. The one time that I was actually able to take Tetsusaiga from you, you nearly gave your life as forfeit for hers. Do not think I don't know that you allowed your demon blood take over the first time because you feared she would die.”

Inuyasha looked away, his face having darkened into a mild blush.

“This Sesshoumaru knows you would die for her. However, as her mate, you must be willing to live for her as well.” He paused, his face serious. “This Sesshoumaru will teach you what you need to know in order to defend yourself, and your pack.” He glanced towards Kagome. “After I do, it is the alpha's responsibility to teach them, your mate included.” Sesshoumaru stood. “We shall start now.”

Inuyasha stood as well, glancing towards Kagome, his face serious. “Call me if anything happens.”

She nodded, giving him a brave smile.

He squeezed her hand gently, then followed Sesshoumaru into the trees. When he'd caught up to the older demon, Seshsoumaru paused.

“This Sesshoumaru is not certain what will become of you should your mate die. No hanyou has lived to take a mate before. I assume that your demon blood would take over, however, that might not happen. Your human emotions could break, and you could follow the human path, or you could follow the demon's path and simply go numb.”

Inuyasha glanced towards him, confused. “Numb?”

“The price a demon pays for immortality is the ability to feel emotion. You could say the price paid is the demon's heart. I have only seen this when humans and demons mate, but often, the human is the key to unlocking the demon's emotions. Their mate gives them the ability to feel things such as love. Happiness. If the mate were to die, it would be like someone reached into the demon and flipped a switch, and suddenly, they can no longer feel.” There was a pause. “Some go insane.”

Inuyasha wasn't as stupid as he sometimes let on and glanced away. “Which is why the human shares the demon's lifespan.” He finished for his brother, glancing away. “I guess I feel bad for Kouga, then...”

Sesshoumaru glanced towards Inuyasha, his face serious. “You shouldn't. That rival male is still a danger towards you. You must kill him at the next opportunity.”

The hanyou stared into nothing, then turned towards his brother. “Let's begin.” He had barely drawn a breath when his brother attacked.

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The pair had disappeared deeper into the woods just after that, leaving Kagome and Miroku to sit vigilantly to watch over the pack. Kagome sensed something strange about Sango while they sat as they were and after a moment, it clicked.

Sango's soul was growing.

Kagome's eyes widened and she glanced towards Miroku, who was busy eying the treeline as though a hoard of demons were about to burst from them and try to make them their dinner.

The girl settled back to observe her friends for awhile, noticing the small differences in the way they acted around each other. Miroku would find reasons to touch Sango, like to pull a non-existent leaf from her hair or brush some invisible dirt from her cheek. Kagome had realized long ago the pair loved each other, and evidentially, Inuyasha was right. They had slept with each other.

Sango was gazing at Miroku with the eyes of a spurned lover, and Kagome wondered what had transpired between the pair, besides sex. It was obvious they were trying to act as though nothing had happened, but Kagome had learned long ago, that when you share something with someone, you never forget a moment of it. Just like she hadn't forgotten any of the times where she and Inuyasha had shared moments.

Finally, she walked towards Sango and sat beside her. “Want to talk about it?”

Sango jumped in shock. She'd been so deep in thought, she hadn't heard the younger girl approach. “Kagome-chan...” She blushed, looking away. “There's nothing to talk about.”

“Uso.” Kagome said softly, putting her arms around the girl's shoulders, much as Sango had done for her all those times she'd cried over Inuyasha. “I've seen that expression on my face entirely too much not to know what's wrong. Besides, Inuyasha and I already know what transpired beside the well the day we returned. He could smell your scents all over each other. You two made love, didn't you...” She saw the tears in her friends eyes and blinked. “Sango?”

“It was just a one night stand, Kagome. Nothing will ever come of it. Miroku said so himself. We love each other, but we can never be together...” Sango blinked back the tears, accidentally freeing one to fall down her face.

Kagome glanced towards the monk and found him looking at them. Upon being caught, he quickly looked away. “Sango, something did come of it. Something that will make itself evident in the months to come...” She gave her friend a reassuring hug. “Sango, you're pregnant.” She whispered softly.

Sango's heart jumped clear into her throat. “What?” She whispered, looking at Kagome, her eyes wide. “I'm...what?!”

Kagome smiled at her. “Your soul has grown. It's growing to make a soul for the baby inside you.” She released her friend and stood. “You should tell him. He deserves to know. It IS his child, after all...”

Sango watched Kagome walk away and covered her mouth, trying to get over her shock. 'I'm pregnant...I'm pregnant with Miroku's child...' She watched as Kagome sat down and began playing with Shippou. A moment later, she stood, walking towards the priest, where she sat down beside him. She felt his curious gaze on her, but didn't speak. Not yet. She still wasn't sure how to tell him.

Miroku looked up when Sango sat beside him, his eyes widening a bit. “Sango-sama...” He said softly.

“I thought I told you not to call me 'sama'.” She said softly, not looking at him yet. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “Miroku, we need to talk...about what happened the other night...”

He paled, looking away. “I thought we agreed that we shouldn't do that. You said so yourself, it was just for that one evening...and we would never speak of it again-”

“Things have changed Miroku.”

He blinked at the soft, yet serious quality of her voice. He swallowed hard, looking at the ground, his hands fisting on his knees. “Sango-”

“I'm pregnant, Miroku.” She said evenly. “Kagome said she could see my soul growing to make one for the baby. You're the only person I've ever had sex with, Miroku, so it's yours.”

The priest nearly choked. “P-pregnant?” His heart soared in his chest. 'She's pregnant with my child...she's going to have my child...but...' As quickly as his heart had soared, it plummeted into his stomach. 'If she gives birth to it...it's Kazaana will swallow her...' “Oh...” He said softly.

Sango watched the play of emotions on his face and was more than slightly disappointed when his face fell. Her heart cracked and she looked away. “I thought you would be happier...” She said softly, her hands balling into two fists.

“This...is not how I wanted this to happen...” He said softly. “It was only supposed to be one night, to satisfy your...curiosity.” He looked away from her, forcing himself to sound cold, sterile.

Anger was beginning to fill her. One couldn't see it unless they looked at her fists, which were now white-knuckled, her nails biting furiously into her skin.

“Maybe...maybe you should go to Kaede-sama when we return to the village and acquire an herb to abort the child...”

Sango stood abruptly. “I never asked for your opinion. I'm only telling you because you should know, being the father and all.” She felt a trickle of blood drip down her knuckle and she turned away from him. “This is the last time we'll speak of it, Miroku-sama.” She put the formal ending back onto his name, and began walking back towards the campfire, and her friend.

The priest put his hand to his face, crying internally at the formal way she said his name, at the distance she was putting between them. It was his fault. If he had welcomed her and the child with open arms, she may still be sitting at his side. If he hadn't suggested that she kill the child that would kill her, she would still be beside him. He felt pain grasp his heart and put a hand over it. 'I'm sorry, Sango...I love you...'

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“She doesn't love me...” Kouga walked slowly along the road, finally having conceded defeat to the hanyou when he had dislodged himself from the tree Sesshoumaru had sent him into. He was now returning to his pack, returning to Ayame, who had always loved him. When had he become so blind that he turned his back on the demon who was completely willing to be his mate?

The sword at his side rubbed against his hip, irritating him. Why had he fallen in love with a human woman? More importantly, with a woman who was very obviously in love with someone else? He had planned to mate her, to take her as his without her permission, to force her to remain by his side.

“I don't deserve her...I deserve to die for even considering such a thing...” That thought made him pause. 'Death...that would be a quick way out of this pain...I would never have to see her with that half-breed again...' He closed his eyes, kneeling on the ground, drawing his sword, staring at the shiny steel with hope. 'I could die...and then I could forget about her...' He closed his eyes, turning the blade, resting the point just below his diaphram, preparing to stab himself through the stomach.

“What manner of pain would send such a strong demon on his knees, with a knife to his belly?”

Kouga's eyes snapped open and he found himself gazing at his worst enemy. “Naraku...” He snarled, drawing the sword away and preparing to attack the demon.

Naraku raised his hand in 'peace'. “Now, now. Don't go attacking prematurely. I'm merely offering you another way out. A way to forget you ever loved that human girl...a way to destroy the one who stole her away from you...” The hanyou saw the demon's face twitch and smiled wickedly. He stretched out his hand, uncurling it from the fist it was in. “Shikon shards? There are six here...that should be enough to destroy that hanyou who stole away the girl you loved...”

Kouga takes a deep breath, considering this. 'When you make a deal with the devil...so to speak...you should think like you're playing a game of chess. Consider all the moves and take the best one.' He reached out, taking the shards. “Sorta overkill, isn't it...?” Kouga, asked, his eyes darkening.

“Three didn't kill him, did they? Sometimes, overkill is your best option...”

Kouga pressed a shard into either arm, one into either leg, one into his chest and the final one into his forhead. He winced in pain as the shard's energy infused with his body and looked towards Naraku, his face serious. “Leave Inuyasha to me. I'll destroy him myself. And keep your hands off Kagome. She's mine.”

Naraku smiled. “But of course...” He disappeared into a sparkle of light.

Kouga watched him go, his hands clenching into fists. 'That bastard has something planned. He probably hopes to get rid of both of us, then take Kagome's shard...' He frowned deeply. 'Okay, Naraku, I'll work for you for now, but the first hint that you'll betray me...I'll kill you myself...'

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The priestess watched the scene with a calm expression. Really, Kikyou had no expression besides calm. Inside, however, her heart was in turmoil. She loved Inuyasha still. Loved him like her lungs craved the air. She took a steadying breath.

But he'd rejected her, as the girl had rejected the wolf demon. A deep breath escaped her and she clenched her hands into fists. Yet, somehow, she couldn't find it in herself to hate him as the wolf demon had turned to hatred.

If anything, she found herself unable to...feel.

It was as if she had gone numb.

She closed her eyes and sighed, realizing that the wolf fully intended to kill the man she'd loved, the man she found she couldn't hate, despite his rejection.

After all, she was dead. How could a dead woman ever expect to hold the love of a man who's heart beat in his chest. How she hold his heart, when there was a woman who was beside him, loving him openly, not afraid of the demon blood in his veins, who loved him despite his mixed blood. Such a thing was rare in this time.

How could he have not have fallen in love with Kagome?

These thoughts were not unfamiliar to the undead priestess. After all, when Inuyasha had come to her the last time, asking her to stay away from him and Kagome, she had considered revenge. She had considered killing her living reflection and claiming the rest of her soul.

But then, not a week after the last time she'd seen Inuyasha, she'd come across a pair in the forest. The woman was begging for him to return to him, and the man had declared that he didn't love her, that he was in love with someone else.

The man was the wolf demon who had just been trapped in another of Naraku's troublesome webs.

The other was also a wolf demon, a pretty young girl with auburn hair. A girl the wolf had called Ayame. The girl had been crushed, but she didn't respond with feelings of anger towards either the wolf, or the girl Kouga loved.

Kagome.

What was it about her that caused men to love her, while other women were left abandoned by the men they loved?

Slowly, Kikyou turned towards where she'd seen the hanyou and his friends make camp and set her sights on a girl with a face identical to her own. “I must speak with that girl...”

As she walked through the forest, memories of her times with Inuyasha came flooding back to her. The long afternoons they would spend, hunting rouge youkai down in his forest. Patching the wounds he received due to inexperience in fighting. The time he hugged her beneath Go Shinboku and agreed to become a human for her. Each memory was tarnished by a stronger memory, a fresher memory, of a hanyou looking at her with a serious expression and asking her to stay away from him and Kagome.

She closed her eyes, resting her hand over her heart.

No, there was no animosity towards the girl in her heart. There was none towards Inuyasha any longer either. There was just a strange emptiness there, where her heart once rested. An emptiness that reminded her that although she was just a soulless doll, she was still capable of emotion, of feeling.

She wasn't sure why she sought out Kagome, rather than Inuyasha, but as she continued on, she realized her reason. Kagome was the only one who could free her from this farce of a body. She could free her of this life of pain, this life that she would now have to live alone, without the only man who she had ever loved, the only man who'd ever loved her.

She closed her eyes, and stood at the edge of the clearing, knowing that Kagome would sense her.

Sure enough, the girl's eyes darted directly towards her, less than a moment after Kikyou had reached the edge of the clearing. She saw her excuse herself, saying she needed to relieve herself, but Kikyou knew the truth. The girl was coming to her.

And she wasn't scared.

When the girl stepped into the tree line, Kikyou merely held a finger to her lips and pointed. The girl looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.

Kikyou was startled how easily the girl trusted her, and almost smiled.

When they reached a small cave, Kikyou ushered her inside. Kagome turned towards her, her face serious. “Inuyasha told you not to approach us anymore, yet here you are...” Kagome said softly, glancing away.

“You wish to know my intentions...” Kikyou said evenly, and the girl nodded. Kikyou looked towards the wall, taking a deep breath. “I grow weary of Naraku's trickery. Weary as anyone else has grown, but probably more so, being one of the first to be led into one of his webs. I failed to believe in the man I loved.” She closed her eyes, touching the stone wall, remembering. After a moment, she turned towards Kagome, her face serious.

Kagome remained silent, merely looking at her. Then, she spoke. “You hurt him.” She said softly.

The miko nodded in agreement. “I regret it. I wish to...repent, so to speak...”

Kagome took a deep breath. “You no longer wish to take Inuyasha to hell?”

“If he offered, I would not refuse it.” Kikyou said honestly. “But he will not, so I will not.” She looked at her reincarnation, her face hardening. “Naraku has given the wolf demon six shikon shards. The wolf plans to use them to kill Inuyasha.” Kikyou looked away. “Kagome...once Inuyasha is out of the way, nothing can stop Naraku. He will gain your shikon shard, and if you're lucky, he'll kill you.”

Nausea fought it's way into Kagome's throat. It was as she'd always feared. In gaining Inuyasha, she had lost a precious friend, a friend who had decided to take the easy path, the path that was covered in Naraku's webs. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because when Naraku dies, I will be finally able to rest. My body will return to the earth, all the souls I've trapped in this fake body...will be freed...and the rest of your soul will return to you.” The woman closed her eyes, resting a hand over her heart. “And then, five hundred years later, I will be reborn into a girl, who will fall through a well, and release a boy that I once sealed...”

Kagome's eyes widened when she saw a tear roll down the miko's cheek. “Kikyou...”

“And she will heal a heart I could not.” Kikyou lifted her gaze, unashamed. “Naraku will be defeated by your single shard. That one shard...is special. It is the piece that is closest to the center of Midoriko's heart. An attack, while normally less powerful, infused with the power of that shikon shard...will destroy Naraku.”

“But you'll die...” Kagome's brow creased.

Kikyou smiled. “I was bound to die, anyways.” She stepped towards Kagome and took the girl's hands. “Destroy Naraku. Free me from this body...and give me peace.”

Kagome stared at her. It could be a trap, but somehow, Kagome doubted it. She closed her eyes, and slowly nodded. “I will.”

The woman closed her eyes and smiled, releasing the girl's hands. She turned towards the entrance of the gave and began to walk away. At the cave's entrance, she paused, glancing back at her. “Thank you, Kagome.”

The girl blinked. “Isn't this a little premature? We haven't defeated him yet...”

“I wasn't thanking you for that. I will when the time comes. I'm thanking you...for doing something that I never could...for trusting him...healing him. Make him happy, because I never could.” She smiled, a true smile, then disappeared from the cave.

Kagome watched her go, her face serious. “You're welcome.” She said softly.

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