InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Desafiante ❯ Chapter Eight - Family ( Chapter 8 )

Previously

" Sesshoumaru, if you ever touch Souta I will make you suffer before I kill you" The small girls voice rang clearly through the chamber, but he could see the small body was trembling and that the big blue eyes that so fascinated him were filled with tears. He did not answer back, he just looked into her face until she broke the contact by turning away, it was then that he decided to speak, to answer one small question cost him little but he suspected it would gain him much in terms of her cooperation.

" The kimono was made for a warrior priestess hundreds of years ago, it was never worn. You have the same spirit within you." Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and paused before continuing " Besides I Sesshoumaru thought it would look good on you …and it does"

Okay here's the next chapter, it's not very long but I feel I owe you some chapters now after that huge gap. Can someone please e-mail me and tell me what it is that Sesshoumaru wears. I know its not a kimono but seeing as I don't know what else to call it that's what I've been using. I'm seeing some references to a haori in fanfics but I don't know if that's the right word either. Thanks to all those that review, it really keeps me going so please continue.

Disclaimer - Once again Inuyasha doesn't belong to me he belongs to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi

Chapter eight

Kagome sat with her legs dangling beneath the large stone table swinging them gently as she thought. Her fingers were tracing invisible patterns on the granite surface, but she seemed oblivious to their movement. As if she were miles away from where she sat, trapped in her own thoughts and unaware of the physical world around her. It had been at least half an hour since Sesshoumaru had spoken and he was, presumably still in the bath, she had no idea why he had bothered to answer her question and she was still confused over his last comment, had it been a compliment? She wasn't sure, it had certainly sounded like one, but weather he had been complimenting the kimono or her or both she wasn't certain.

It was also unnerving being in such close proximity to him, especially as he probably wasn't wearing anything, he definitely didn't have anything on his top half. Kagome shook her head in disgust, why was she even thinking of him. She should be thinking about escaping, there had to be a way to make the well work again so she could help Inuyasha, he would still be alive in the past, waiting. She could take Souta with her it would be safer there than here. She smiled to herself, the past had always been a dangerous place, but now it seemed secure in comparison to this New World overrun with demons.

Sesshoumaru rose lazily from the water, his cool demeanor cleverly hid the anger that seethed through him, he had meant to answer the question and leave it at that but some unknown force had compelled him to give the girl a compliment, he a demon lord compliment a worthless human. Ah but this human is not worthless is she my lord, she is special, and her power is seductive is it not? Sesshoumaru snarled softly at the unwanted interruption from his subconscious. That was not the case she was not special, merely passingly useful to him. To be discarded as soon as she was no longer necessary. Then why bring her here? to the heart of your domain, why talk to her at all if she is only a tool. Or have you gone mad great Sesshoumaru Sama, do you now talk to tools where once you barely talked to your peers? He'd had enough of this, to be mocked by your own thoughts was intolerable and had never happened before, at least not to this extent. He dressed quickly and walked into the small room meaning to throw the stupid ningen girl back into her cell, but he stopped at the door instead she was lost in thought, delicate fingers working across the surface of the table unaware of his presence. So for some unknown reason he stopped and just watched, all thoughts of what he should do forgotten.

Kagome almost jumped out of her skin as part of the stone wall began to move, a toady head looked around the newly formed door and then scuttled inside pulling a tray on wheels. Kagome burst out laughing; Jaken looked positively idiotic pulling a hostess trolley he even had an apron on, her laughter increased ten fold when she looked at it properly, it was covered in little pink hearts. Obviously the little toad had used a child's apron, but it had most definitely been a poor choice in pattern. Jaken ignored her completely although she noted he was slowly turning a puce colour in embarrassment. " I have brought food for you great Sesshoumaru Sama". Kagome was still giggling as she turned around to see Sesshoumaru standing behind her, thankfully fully clothed, why did he always have to be so damned quite it was so unnerving.

Sesshoumaru nodded at Jaken and the toad Youkai seemed to know he had been dismissed as he immediately backed out of the room and the stone wall closed up behind him. Kagome looked over at the food and drink; she hadn't realized how hungry or thirsty she had become until now. Deciding to ignore the demon lord she scooted round the table on her bum in order to reach the trolley. She filled her plate and began to eat; still not looking at the demon that so confused her.

Sesshoumaru stared at the ningen girl in front of him; the potion he had given her must have dulled her Miko senses more than he thought. She had not detected his presence despite the fact he had been standing at the doorway for a good five minutes. He sank down onto one of the floor cushions opposite and partially closed his eyes, he hated to admit it but his idiotic half brother had not made a bad choice in this girl. She was a powerful Miko, but she was also innocent and beautiful, for a human anyway. She intrigued him there was something about her that was intoxicating, but she is only a tool he reminded himself, a powerful weapon against his enemies and against the new threat, only now becoming apparent to his kin.

A group of humans and hanyous were amassing a short distance from his land lead by an abomination. A creature that was neither a full demon nor a half-breed, but the offspring of the two combined. Sesshoumaru should have killed the thing as soon as it was born as well as those that created it. But they had escaped into another demon territory. It still grated on him that he had been so close. However it had not been worth a war between himself and the eastern rulers. He had warned his kin then of the potential danger and now he was being proved right. If reports were correct the eastern demon lord had already lost both his lands and his life to the thing he had sheltered.

If this girl could help him use tetsaiga then he would have no problem defeating them if they did decide to invade his lands. He was not stupid, he had almost been defeated once by his tiresome half brother and dispite his loathing of the half-breeds he knew they could be as powerful as any full demon and they were amassing in huge numbers. He doubted if there leader had any real desire to see the freedom of humans or the end to the lower status of hanyou's, Which he claimed as his goals. Sesshoumaru guessed that the whelp was after power and very cleverly using the humans and his near kin to get it. When he did Sesshoumaru had little doubt he would abandon his foolish followers to their fate.

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes fully to look more closely at the human opposite him, he had wasted enough time already, the girl was almost fully recovered, or at least she was as fully recovered as he required, at least she could walk. It would be wise to ascertain the full extent of the potion's effect. Sesshoumaru stood up abruptly. "Finish your food quickly human, I do not have time to waste, you have eaten enough anyway". Sesshoumaru looked down at her again, the kimono was most certainly becoming but it was highly impractical for walking long distance. He crossed the room swiftly and exited the same way as Jaken had, but he returned merely a moment later and threw a pair of loose pants and a simple shirt at the wide-eyed Kagome. " Put these on, quickly", Sesshoumaru stared at the girl with impatience when she did not immediately comply and then realized that she would not change in front of him. He cast her one last cold gaze before once again leaving the room " you have five minutes no more".

Kagome merely stared after him open mouthed, jeeze this guy changes like the wind; she sighed and shook her head before starting to change.

Some time later

This was ridiculous they had been walking since first light, which had to be at least twelve hours ago. Occasionally Sesshoumaru would stop and wait impatiently for her to catch up; she had stopped asking questions ages ago it had seemed pointless none had even been graced with an acknowledging look let alone an answer. Kagome stared around her; in the company of Sesshoumaru she had almost forgotten that this was indeed the modern world and not the feudal era, but they had walked beyond the forest's grasp long ago now and had reached the city, eerie in the half-light of dusk.

It looks so empty, a newspaper drifted past her feet, torn and dirty, pushed along the now empty pavement by the wind. The cold air blew about her and she wrapped her arms protectively across her chest and shivered. There where demons lurking in the shadows around her, she could sense their presence easily. She felt suddenly grateful for Sesshoumaru's company and she looked up meaning to ask him if he was aware of the things lurking in the shadows. Kagome wheeled around in alarm, Sesshoumaru had gone, he had been just ahead of her a moment ago but now he was nowhere to be seen.

Okay, lets not get alarmed here I'm sure he's around here somewhere. At any other time this would have presented an ideal opportunity to escape, but she had no weapons and the demons around her had already noticed Sesshoumaru's absence. She could feel their hatred and their hunger, there were other things as well in the darkness, she could sense them hiding in the buildings around her nameless terrors. Not demons but still dangerous and definitely supernatural in origin. Kagome examined the surrounding area wildly, the sun had almost descended below the horizon and the streetlights had automatically switched on despite the fact they were no longer needed. Neon signs advertising the now abandoned shops glittered in the dusk. If this had been a normal night, a night before the demons had taken over; this street would have been alive with people. People laughing with friends, yelling at boyfriends for some misdemeanor and then storming of down the street, or perhaps making up before happily continuing on their way. Shop vendors and restaurant owners would have stood at the entrances to their properties inviting potential customers to enter with welcoming words and greedy smiles. Vendors would have stood selling food from rickety stalls in the back streets. Kagome could see them all in her mind's eye. Like long forgotten ghosts they hurried past her, substantial only in her memories.

But in reality there where only monsters, watching her, waiting. She reached out with her senses probing for Sesshoumaru's presence but she could not detect him, she probed still further as far as she could into every abandoned building and back into the forested areas behind her but he was not there. Kagome's eyes snapped open she had closed them in concentration but she would need them now. Before her stood several of the horrors she had sensed, mindless like animals their eyes glinting, they looked out of place on the concrete and tarmac of the city. Kagome could sense more of them in the shadows watching. Anger grew within her like a raging fire, " Why don't you all have a go? I can sense you. Afraid are you? Well you should be, I promise I'm not an easy meal". Her face felt flushed and her heart raced within her, she could feel white hot energy building up at the centre of her being it swirled around her making the air crackle with its purity and power. The monsters in front shifted uneasily, suddenly uncertain of their prey. One of the less cautious ones ran towards her its claws scratching the tarmac of the road sending shards spinning in its wake. With a blinding flash it dissolved on contact with the pure light. Kagome watched as the other creatures backed off cautiously. She knew it wouldn't be for long, and she had no idea how to sustain or direct the power around her, without a weapon she could only hope the field would hold.

Sesshoumaru shifted his weight slightly and stood up, the bricks beneath him were somehow uncomfortable, there was no connection with the earth in these cities of stone, hence the fact most of the demon lords had moved into greener areas of their respective territories. The human had done well, interesting though how she could not sense him, he had felt her reach out, searching but she had not been able to find him, despite the fact he was still close enough to see her. The girl was obviously still in possession of her Miko powers for the pure energy surrounding her was dazzling in its strength and brilliance. Sesshoumaru shifted again slightly before stepping of the building into the air and moving down towards the girl. The potion had obviously made him and him alone immune to her abilities, an unsuspected but welcome side effect.

Kagome breathed deeply in relief as Sesshoumaru settled on the ground in front of her; he barely looked at the demons around him. Instead he reached out one hand towards them; crescents of light shot from his claws and the demons fell like dust to the ground with barely a whimper. She felt those in the shadows turn away, there prey now not worth the effort, they sought an easier meal than this. " It seems ningen that you are still in possession of your powers". She watched as he walked towards her and felt a flash of pain as he reached the border of the white light surrounding her. The light seemed to cower back from him and he stepped through it easily, he reached towards her cupping the side of her face with his hand " but they are now useless against I Sesshoumaru human, an interesting development". He removed his hand quickly as if suddenly realizing he was touching her but he didn't back away. His golden eyes glittered with more cold ice than all of the monsters she had just faced put together. They were made all the more striking by the bright intelligence that burned behind them as ageless as the earth itself.

Kagome was shocked out of her contemplation by a feeling of foreboding so strong she could feel her stomach tighten at the force of it, filling her throat with bile. " Sesshoumaru?", he raised a hand to signify he too could feel the fast approaching hoard. Kagome could see them now, there were about a hundred of them but they were not full demons. It felt as if they were hanyou's, but they had something else with them, something Kagome could not categorize easily and it confused her. They stopped barely thirty feet away from herself and Sesshoumaru who had automatically placed himself in their path. The demons parted in the middle to allow one of their number to step forward. Kagome drew her breath in sharply; he was beautiful almost as flawless as the demon lord who stood protectively ahead of her.

Pure white hair cascaded down almost to his waist, but it was more of a bleached bone white in comparison to Sesshoumaru's hair, which was softer and almost opalescent when touched by the rays of the newly risen moon. The new demons hair was also streaked with inky black, lines of it ran throughout its length like stripes. His face was elegantly sculpted with the same ethereal quality Sesshoumaru possessed but somehow more sinister. His complexion was pale broken only by more ink black stripes that radiated out across his cheeks in a similar fashion to Sesshoumaru's vermilion markings but unlike the demon lords they appeared to be made up of tiny overlapping scales, fine and almost reptilian. It gave the markings an eerie sheen and they sparkled coldly in the florescent glow of the street lamps. Kagome gazed into the demons eyes he was staring at her now, but his eyes made her turn away they were not gold and glowing like Sesshoumaru's but yellow and flat like those of a snake.

She looked up again sharply as she heard the demon laugh; it was not a chuckle but a full-throated laugh. It filled her with feelings of menace and she shivered again before stepping back a pace, careful however not to get too far away from Sesshoumaru's protective presence. Sesshoumaru was looking angry his eyes were already tinged red and he was regarding the demon before them with more Enmity than he had ever shown to Inuyasha, dark energy filled the air around him crackling hotly and turning the air foul with its corrupting hatred.

The other demon stopped laughing as suddenly as he had begun and stared at Sesshoumaru with amusement before stepping back a pace and bowing almost to the floor. Kagome heard Sesshoumaru growl at the mocking gesture and she could feel his anger grow ten fold, he seemed about to strike when the demon before them spoke

" There's no need to get so angry Lord Sesshoumaru, surely its bad for your health, and I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or that simply adorable human you appear to be shielding. She really is ravishing you know I don't suppose you'd like to give her to me as a gift. Id be immensely grateful of course"

Sesshoumaru's reply came out as a low growl " What are you doing on my land, you were warned never to return here. I Sesshoumaru will make sure you pay for your mistake with your life"

The demon erupted into a fresh gale of laughter at this proclamation and he raised his hand in a gesture of submission.

" I didn't come here for a fight, I came here to give a warning. You have three weeks lord Sesshoumaru to vacate your land. You should be grateful really, as a rule I don't give warnings but I thought I should extend you that courtesy. The demon ahead of her lifted a hand to his face sweeping back the long hair that fell across his forehead revealing a crescent moon identical to Sesshoumaru's own mark, yet blood red. He smiled coldly.

"You are family after all"

Sorry cliffie, I can't resist them please don't get mad though I made sure I had almost finished chapter nine before posting this, so I wont be leaving you all dangling for another month. Please review and tell me if the new character is believable or not, I would also appreciate some help with the name so any suggestions are welcome. J