InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dubious Relations ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Dubious Relations

 

Chapter 6

 

Within a second of recognizing he was awake, Sesshomaru realized that he was in no way inside any part of his castle. Be it inside its strong walls, in the garden his father had constructed or the forest that had grown for a millennia around it and the village beneath the hill. With that realization, Sesshomaru had every reason to be cautious.

 

A regally created nose twitched as its owner began to awaken, though his decorated pink eyelids did not flutter nor move at all. Sesshomaru didn't recognize his surroundings and he didn't want to alert his captor should he still be in the room. His nose twitched again, minutely, before Sesshomaru allowed his eyes to open smoothly, none of his movements causing him to waste the little energy he possessed.

 

His golden eyes stared at the roof of the room for a moment. This was definitely Naraku's lair. There was no mistaking the half-breed's vile scent or the dark, almost gloomy décor. Sesshomaru attempted to raise his hand to his forehead to swipe away a few stray locks from his gaze but found his hand to be heavy, far too heavy. How troublesome.

 

There was a scuffle of bared feet on the smooth plastered floor and Sesshomaru slowly and painfully, turned his head to the left and up until he found he was staring at a ball of fur with a black head and a pair of dark eyes peering down on him. The fluff squeaked.

 

“What are you doing, human? Why are you not with my pathetic brother?” Sesshomaru asked with a croaky voice, his tone acidic when he mentioned Inuyasha.

 

Its raggedness seemed to surprise the girl who had sought for safety in his pelt, “I-I was kidnapped by Naraku too.” She stuttered. Had they both been outside, away from Naraku and had Sesshomaru not been keen to cut his half-breed brother into different segments, Sesshomaru would have appreciated the fright he could detect in the girl's voice and aura. However, with how high pitched it made her voice, Sesshomaru's aching temples only whined for her to be silenced. Immediately.

 

With a slow deliberateness unlike that he usually completed his tasks be them killing off a demon tormenting one of his villages or reading and signing many different political documents, Sesshomaru sat up. Naraku's miasma seemed to be much more concentrated than it used to be; he ached all over and felt extremely worn out.

 

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped wider, and he clumsily placed his remaining hand on his stomach. It was lurching and complaining with morning sickness and from Naraku's poison. But, beneath its swirling and twirling Sesshomaru could feel it, the slight life still developing in the warm cavity. Sesshomaru frowned. Could no one do anything right? First Inuyasha had marked him, now Naraku couldn't kill off a still developing pup. Was he surrounded by fools?

 

Yet again, the girl's movements brought Sesshomaru's attention to her. Golden eyes followed her clothed legs up to her still nervous looking face. His pelt was rolled up and sitting limply in her arms. “Er…” She started, “We've never been properly introduced. I'm Kagome-”

 

“I do not care.” Sesshomaru deadpanned, shakily bending his knees so he could cross them and sit forward comfortably, his hand still warming the clothe covering his stomach.

 

He heard the girl grit her teeth and let out an almost growl angrily as his pelt was dropped next to him, “I was just trying to be polite! And to imagine I defended you whenever Inuyasha talked about you! You're a bigger jerk than Inuyasha says you are! Humph!” He watched with uncaring eyes as the girl crossed her arms in a huff and strode back to her corner. She sat down and glared at the wall opposite her, her knees held up to her chin.

 

For the most part, Sesshomaru ignored her tantrum. He had more important things to think about other than why a pathetic mortal was being held in the same room as he was or whether her being mad at him was a negative or positive occurrence. The demon was known for disliking humans; bar the little girl he kept by his side. Sesshomaru couldn't comprehend why the girl seemed so infuriated with his response; it was normal and should have been expected. Other than that, his head hurt and he would not award the girl with a reaction.

 

Sesshomaru's claws scratched and caught on his silk kimono shakily as his thoughts were once more smothered by the pup as its life force pulsed. It seemed the pup was reacting to his confusion, as strange as that was. The pup wasn't a conscious being, why was it reacting to his feelings? Once again, Sesshomaru found himself caressing his abdomen as he thought. The pup wouldn't make itself known to others for another month yet, and then it would continue to grow and stretch his abdomen at a rapid rate for another four months. But he could feel its life clearly, feel it pulse as he once again scratched his claws over the silk that covered it.

 

Sesshomaru remembered the words of the human mothers-to-be he'd witnessed smiling and rubbing at their swollen bellies. He'd heard them say it was a magical feeling to have a new life developing inside them. Sesshomaru frowned idly, his hair blocking the girl from his peripheral vision as he inclined his head. All the pup brought was anger to his chest; it was the proof that he'd managed to - once again - do something stupid. He had realized after Inuyasha and his coupling the dishonour of killing his unborn child. With his heat creeping so close behind him, Sesshomaru hadn't thought of the killing of his pup's repercussions on his person. Not until after the deed was done.

 

Fury blazed inside the demon Lord, now he could not even dishonour himself! Inuyasha had taken that right away from him!

 

He was jolted from his thoughts by the girl's voice, though his reaction did not show, “Are you alright?” She asked. Sesshomaru found it incredibly off putting to stare up at her.

 

Sesshomaru's stare was carefully emotionless blank, “I am fine.”

 

“Oh,” The girl shifted her kimono on her shoulders and pulled the sleeves down her arms, “I was wondering, that's all. You were petting your stomach, so I thought that you might be sick. I sure was after I was brought here.” Her tone sounded imploring to the Lord's ears as though she wanted him to admit that he was not feeling his best.

 

“I am a demon, my body isn't as frail as your own is, human. I need not your concern.” As if to remind him that such a statement was a lie, Sesshomaru's stomach lurched and his shoulder muscles sent a sharp jab of pain into the back of his head, and Sesshomaru found his eyes roaming about the room quickly. It would not fare well with him should he be made to live in a room covered in his own bile, he needed a bucket of some sort, the quicker the better.

 

With barely a blink, Sesshomaru turned so he was staring down at his hand again, completely ignoring the girl's almost silent seething and her heated glare, “Girl,” He heard the human girl's head rise and her a starting syllable to her answering bark, “Not you, human, the half-breed child standing outside this room.”

 

Sesshomaru shifted slowly, each and every limb and joint in his body crying for him to be still, so that he was facing the vine covered doorway, his eyes connecting with the dead gaze of the albino child Naraku had created. She did not move or speak, so Sesshomaru continued, “I am in need of a pail, immediately.” The white-haired child moved away from the door.

 

He heard the human girl shuffle beside him, then, minutely, felt the heat from her right shoulder though both her yukata and his own smudged red kimono. She peered up at him with large dark eyes, like twin blobs of ink, “Are you sure you're alright? Why would you need a bucket?”

 

Sesshomaru didn't respond immediately and simply examined the girl. No doubt she was not from this land; if she were she wouldn't address him so casually. Her usual clothes were also supporting evidence to this hypothesis. Sesshomaru inclined his head, “I am carrying a pup.” Sesshomaru raised a brow at the girl's wide eyed surprised expression, “I presume you know of the common symptoms of a pregnancy?”

 

It took a moment for the girl to nod and sit up straight, her legs tucked under her. She laughed shakily and waved a hand, her opposite one left immobile on her lap. Sesshomaru's face was wiped blank, “What do you find amusing, human?”

 

The girl covered her mouth and giggled to herself, “I just imagined you telling me that you were pregnant. Silly, aren't I?”

 

“I did.”

 

The girl's eyes widened, “W-What?”

 

Sesshomaru turned his gaze back on the door, “I speculate the reasons as to why my pathetic brother keeps you, girl. Your ability to listen is significantly lacking.”

 

“Wait! You mean you really are p-pregnant?” Sesshomaru's eyes once again studied the girl's face and found her gawking up at him.

 

“Yes.”

 

“B-But Inuyasha said he had a brother! Why does he think you are a man? I-I mean,” She stuttered, “You do dress like a guy and all, but you do look feminine!”

 

With a brief feeling or déjà vu, Sesshomaru soothed his annoyance at her comment and set himself to explaining what he had to Rin two days before. It was to be expected, he supposed, humans were such ignorant creatures, “If I am to be more specific, male fox, wolf and dog demons are the only breeds of demon capable of bearing young. I have heard and read that some breeds of cat demon are also capable of bearing children, but it is not common.” He finished.

 

The girl blinked, seemingly overwhelmed by the information he'd recited to her. He remembered the same lecture his tutor several hundred years ago. She then began to look worried a moment later, “Does that mean Inuyasha,” She paused, and Sesshomaru found a bitter reply ready and waiting on the tip of his pink tongue, confusing coiling in him at how quickly the human girl realized his brother was unfaithful. Perhaps Inuyasha had gathered his courage and told her of their coupling after all? The girl sighed and started again, “Does that mean that Inuyasha is capable of falling pregnant too?”

 

“No.” Sesshomaru berated himself for thinking so highly of the human mind and its ability to make conclusions. He had been expecting far too much, “He is nothing but a wretched half-breed. His human blood makes him incapable of bearing young.”

 

“You don't have to put it so rudely; he's still your brother.” The girl seethed. Her eyes flickered between the demon Lord and the door. She calmed herself, “So, are you feeling very ill? You must be suffering from the effects of morning sickness, right?”

 

Sesshomaru's stomach rolled again, and the pup pulsed unhappily from beneath his hand, “No.”

 

Dark eyebrows furrowed and the girl glared determinedly up at him, “You better not be saying that to make yourself seem tough. If you're ill, tell me. Okay?”

 

Sesshomaru ignored her words, his eyes turning back to the door, “My Lord, you asked for a pail?” The girl beside the demon Lord jumped as Kanna's small, emotionless voice pierced into their conversation.

 

Sesshomaru inclined his head, “I am unable to move, pass me the pail, human.”

 

The girl huffed as she stood, “I have a name, you know. It's Kagome. Ka - Go - Me. Understand?” She took the bucket from the albino girl with a `thank you' and strode back to where Sesshomaru sat. The demon Lord took the bucket unsteadily. The human continued on with her rant.

 

It was hurriedly halted when he lurched forward and the bucket poised in front of him was filled. The sickening scent of bile and an acrid taste of it entered the Lord's mouth and nose. It burnt. Sesshomaru lurched forward again.

 

When he'd stopped heaving, he found the human girl holding back his long, platinum white hair, a worried expression on her face. Sesshomaru coughed thickly, attempting to rid his tongue of the repulsive aftertaste and the fiery sensation that remained there, “Thank you.” He croaked.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Naraku watched his two prisoners intently, his mind attempting to sort through the confusion gathering there. Kanna had kindly lent him her mirror for the next hour. He ignored the emotionless girl's blank, all-seeing gaze as it stared through him.

 

“How… Odd.” He murmured to himself as he shifted so he was leaning against his window's wooden sill, “You said he was vulnerable, Kanna, but you didn't warn me to what extent. I did not expect my miasma to affect him so potently.”

 

The girl remained silent. Naraku watched as the proud, demon Lord laid back down, his pelt supporting his neck and head. Sesshomaru's hand was still over his stomach. The half-demon hummed to himself, “He must be feeling very ill, to allow that human to see him as he is. He is not attempting to hide his weakness at all.”

 

“It is essential that our Lord eats.”

 

Crimson eyes flashed as they set themselves upon the girl standing as though a concrete statue with her mirror held delicately in her small hands. She looked as though she hadn't spoken at all, “Is that so?”

 

Naraku didn't receive a response. He allowed himself a moment to contemplate his newest captive's health. He had been planning to take the demon that night, hopefully after charming Sesshomaru into agreeing to such activities. He was not a demon without any honour. He knew when enough was enough, just as he knew who it was unacceptable to kill.

 

Should Sesshomaru not consent to having sex with him, Naraku would wait. He would wait a week, and then he would set himself to the task of persuading the Lord in other ways. The half-demon knew of the little girl Sesshomaru had taken under his wing's whereabouts. Just as he knew where the toad and the dragon Sesshomaru traveled with were. It would be simple to collect them, more so than it had to collect Sesshomaru himself.

 

Naraku smirked and stood. With a swift tug he fixed his purple haori over his shoulders, and straightened its front. With his first step towards the door leading to the hallway beyond it, he said, “You may accompany me, Kanna.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“So, why did Naraku kidnap you?” He gave no response, he barely blinked, “He wanted to get rid of me so that Kagura could take my place and draw Inuyasha close but not too near to here. I wonder what Naraku could have planned for you though. He must know you're pregnant; Kanna told me that there were two guests and that they were both here last night. She must have meant you and the baby.”

Sesshomaru idly marveled at the human girl's ability to talk and not breathe. He was sure she hadn't stopped for a single breath at all during the past ten minutes. Much like Rin, this girl seemed to feel more comfortable when there was conversation (no matter how one sided it was) floating in the air. He hadn't uttered a single sound since she'd started chattering, and he felt, should he have wanted to, he wouldn't have gotten a word in anyway.

He heard the girl shift, “Hey, if you're pregnant, there has to be another father right? Who is it? Are they special to you?” Sesshomaru allowed his molten gold gaze to shift from the extremely interesting crack in the wall to the girl's curious, wide-eyed face. She egged him on, “Well? Who? Have I met them? Come on, I won't tell anyone.”

Sesshomaru lapped at the roof of his mouth, ridding his tongue of the last remnants of his latest bout of morning sickness. He answered quietly, “You have.”

“Really? Who is it?” The girl asked, her excitement showing on her features clearly.

After an almost languid blink, Sesshomaru answered bluntly, “He does not wish for you to know.”

“Oh.” The girl looked downcast, “Do you know why?”

“He believes this will change your opinion of him to a negative one. However, he should not care; he has no doubt received many slanderous remarks in his lifetime. And he is of noble blood, despite his lack of respect for it.”

“Why would he think that?” Sesshomaru watched as the human raised a hand to her chin and cupped it. He watched as her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes narrowed with deep thought. The demon Lord took to appreciating the silence that surrounded them. He closed his eyes briefly, the pup's life felt like a pleasant tingle against his hand.

He heard loud gasp erupt from the girl's lips a minute later, “Oh! Is it Kouga?”

“No.”

The girl huffed, “Well I'll ask Inuyasha then! He ought to know about the pup in the very least and he despite what he says he car-”

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open and he pinned the girl to her spot with a heated glare, one that set his eyes ablaze, “You will not reveal my state of health to anyone, especially not that half-breed. It is I that will tell him, when I feel the need to do so. Until then, you will be silent.” Sesshomaru paused, “Is that understood?”

She nodded hesitantly, “But you are going to tell him, right? He is your brother after all.”

 

“You should not expect such things of this Sesshomaru. It is my own business whether or not I am to reveal the pup's existence to such a disgrace. The half-breed's feelings are of no importance to me.”

“That's not fair! Inuyasha didn't choose to be born a half-demon!”

“He is a disgrace amongst our kind, it does not matter that he did not choose his being. He should have killed himself long ago. The world does not require anymore like him, he would not have been missed.”

Sesshomaru flexed his hand, listening to the symphony of cracks that erupted from his knuckles. He found that his fingers were moving far easier than they had that morning. He spoke the bitter thought that flashed through his mind, “Father should have left him for dead. He should not have lost his life for the half-breed's, they do not compare in value.”

“But-”

The girl cut off her statement as the ominous echo of footsteps from the hallway. They sounded like Jaken when he rapped his knuckles against the wooden shoji outside Sesshomaru's chambers, before he entered the room. Sesshomaru sat up rigidly and crossed his legs beneath him, mimicking his position from that morning. He was grateful that it didn't hurt as much as it had then.

Naraku was wearing a smirk as the vines parted creakily and allowed him to enter the cramped room. The albino child remained outside in the hallway, her forever present mirror flashing golden orange because of the lanterns there. Sesshomaru uncaringly allowed his eyes to focus on Naraku, and spoke slowly, “What is your reason for keeping this Sesshomaru captive?”

Unsurprisingly Naraku chuckled. Sesshomaru had noted the half-breed's sadistic tendencies early in their relationship, as bad as it was. Naraku crouched in front of the demon Lord, mimicking the position Sesshomaru had seen Inuyasha take, “Demanding even when you are unable to defend yourself, Sesshomaru? It is foolish to be so, but I cannot help but find it admirable.”

Sesshomaru remained silent. His eyes held a blazing fury, of which was set to the task of burning a hole through the centre of Naraku's head. Again, the half-breed chuckled.

“How have you found your newest roommate, Kagome? I hope he is to your liking.”

“Humph. It doesn't matter if I like him or not,” Sesshomaru's gaze shifted between the two, before it settled on the girl as she continued speaking. She tone was sincere, without an ounce of doubt, “Because Inuyasha will rescue me soon.” She explained haughtily with a huff and crossed her arms.

Sesshomaru remembered hearing similar words from his charge whilst traveling with her; they had encountered many a bandit during their travels Sesshomaru recalls with annoyance. Did all humans trust others so easily? So foolishly? Rin and this girl seemed to allow their lives to be protected by others often. True, they were female, but female demons protected themselves and their young; there didn't seem to be any reasonable reason for the human girls to think it was safe to entrust their lives in the hands of others as they did.

Sesshomaru scoffed to himself. Humans were weak, they were made that way. They were like that from birth, Sesshomaru thought idly before turning his gaze back to Naraku. Unlike demons they could not grow to be strong enough to protect themselves absolutely, so they did not die. He wisely chose not to comment aloud on the matter.

“I will not repeat myself, half-breed.”

“I do not expect you to, my Lord.” He retorted immediately. Naraku's smirk did not waver, even as he crouched again, “I have already mentioned that I am in need of an heir. I must ensure, should one of my enemies successfully cause my demise, that my goal does not end with my death.” Boldly, he leant forward, bringing his lips to Sesshomaru's right ear (and earned a set of claws buried in his right shoulder for his efforts), “I am sure you do not need to be told much else in order to decipher what my plan is.”

Sesshomaru found his mark burning, more so than the breath blowing across his ear did. He could barely hear anything bar the seductive purr that was Naraku's mellow voice, not even the surprised and terrified gasp that erupted from the human girl a mere metre away from them at Naraku's actions. The demon Lord's grip was shaky - from the poison in his body and the slippery, crimson blood that ran and dripped from his hand - and found his insides set ablaze by the infuriatingly smug smirk on Naraku's face.

“Are you not feeling well, Sesshomaru?” He asked and added sardonically, “How disappointing.”

Once again, Sesshomaru found Naraku's face drawing closer, and found that his wrist was being gripped tightly in the half-breed's frigid hand, right over the markings there. The demon Lord attempted to hold back a shiver because, damn it, he couldn't allow his only weakness to be discovered. Not by this half-breed. The demon Lord set himself to breathing calmly through his nose, attempting to ignore the arousal gathering in his lower abdomen by concentrating on his flaming mating mark.

That's right. His mind supplied, He had a mate. He had a mate. He had a mate that would not be happy should he be taken by Naraku. Stop it, his mate would be angry, relax, ignore.

The mantra continued to play in his head until Sesshomaru felt cold lips brush his own and his lips pulled back into a snarl, his eyes bleeding crimson, “Release me at once, half-breed!”

The order was ignored. Sesshomaru found a frosty hand clasping at his jaw tightly, holding his head in place. Sesshomaru dug his teeth into the lips that pressed tightly, sorely, against his own. His mark was aching, as though he was being bitten by a beast with fiery jaws set on tearing his shoulder loose from his being. Naraku's blood tasted vulgar, it burnt his throat, it's potent scent made his head feel as though it was filled with cotton.

“Stop it!” Sesshomaru watched with wide eyes as Naraku was shouldered away from him. His claws left their bloody trenches in the half-breed's arm quickly and with a sickening squelch as the half breed was knocked onto his side to Sesshomaru's left. Instantly he brought his hands to his neck, uncaringly smearing the putrid blood over his jaw in the process, holding his hand over his mark, hoping to ease the burning there. The mark was making him feel strange, as though he should be punished, despite his fighting back and unwillingness to join Naraku in his earlier actions.

Sesshomaru growled, but his angry words were cut off by a much louder and more outraged voice than his own could ever be, “What are you doing? You can't do that to him! That's rape!”

The room is silent, bar Sesshomaru's hissing breathes, like a dragon suffering from a nightmare. The pain was easing in his shoulder and was instead forming at the base of his head. The pup pulsed, then pulsed quickly again a moment later, as though crying for help. Sesshomaru had swallowed the half-breed's blood, it was most likely harming the pup.

Naraku's feet shuffled on the floor as he rose to his feet, “I was not going to claim him. Not tonight.” Naraku replied, his smirk still in place as he stood straight. Sesshomaru could not understand what the half-breed was so pleased about.

The girl stood with her back to Sesshomaru and her hands clenched into tight fists, “That doesn't matter! He doesn't want to have sex with you! Why would he?”

“Why would he not?” Naraku countered, “I am sure he does not want harm bestowed upon his companions.” Sesshomaru's eyes flashed menacingly at the mention of Rin, Jaken and Ah Un. The half breed wouldn't dare harm them, not his small pack.

The girl bristled, “Yeah - well,” She stumbled, “You still wouldn't be able to impregnate him!” Immediately the girl's hands rose to cover her mouth, her eyes wide as she realized her mistake.

“Silence, girl!” Sesshomaru hissed menacingly, causing the human to jump away and turn towards him rapidly, “We have an agreement. You will practice honouring it immediately.” He reminded her forcefully, a glare accompanying his deadly tone.

Sesshomaru eyed the half-breed disapprovingly as the girl nodded, “Kanna, what is it they speak of?”

The little albino girl took a moment to gather her thoughts, then spoke softly, “Our Lord is pregnant.”

Sesshomaru, despite the circumstances, felt a surge of sadistic pride mount inside him at the half-breed's wide eyes, his mouth curling into a disgusted, angry sneer. The demon Lord hushed his voice, relaxed his breathing and allowed his face to be masked again, his composure almost opposite Naraku's quickly deteriorating one; his eyes quickly Sesshomaru's eyes flickered to the human girl's worried face, before returning to Naraku's as his hand left his neck.

The half demon frowned, closed his crimson eyes briefly and smirked, bestowing a bitter glare on Sesshomaru, “You also have a mate, then? You would not allow yourself to be taken under circumstances less than that, unless of course, it was a means to ensure your little girl's safety.”

“I have no mate.” The human girl to Sesshomaru's right looked surprised. Sesshomaru ignored her.

“Kanna?” Naraku called.

Sesshomaru quickly acknowledged that the child would have to die. He could not have someone with her seemingly strong senses in fortune telling be used as they were by Naraku. It set him at a huge disadvantage.

The child's dark red eyes rose from the ground, “Our Lord has a mate.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

His chin was propped up on his palm, the elbow connected to it resting on the wooden sill beside him. The moon was nearly half full, it's blue light reflecting off his dark, wavy hair in a way that had Naraku gain a light halo of purity and innocence. The image of complete innocence was disrupted by the thoughtful frown and drawn eyebrows on his face.

However, despite his lazy posture and over all appearance, Naraku's mind was working over-time. He had not foreseen his plan going so badly, or in the least not in its first few hours! He hadn't thought there was even the slightest chance that Sesshomaru would give his body so completely as to have allowed his mate to have marked him.

Naraku's dark eyes narrowed, he hadn't seen a mark. His index finger tapped his cheek with annoyance as he riddled out the reasons as to why he could not see what was supposed to be an obvious sign of a mateship. He quickly decided to mull on that later, as he had far more pressing matters. He needed to figure out who was Sesshomaru's mate, and how to rid this world of him.

Who would Sesshomaru trust to such an extent as to actually allow him to mark him? Who could take the proud, strong demon so completely he'd attempt to hide the fact that he even had a mate in the first place? From Naraku's faithful informants' information Sesshomaru never visited anyone, never seemed to spare a second glace for anyone other than Inuyasha, the little girl, the toad and his dragon. Who had enough brains and ability to escape his Saimyoushou's practically undetectable eyes?

Naraku couldn't think of a single being capable of doing such a thing. True his Saimyoushou could be killed, but there were always more, endless amounts of them ready and waiting to continue with another's message.

His frown deepened as Naraku realized he have to go to great lengths to discover the identity of his chosen mate's mate. He'd have to go against his plans in order for this one to work. Naraku decided it was time to pay Inuyasha a visit; if anyone knew of his brother's habits it should be him. His nose worked wonders and from Kagura's recount of the past few weeks, Sesshomaru had met with Inuyasha and his group for a short period of time. Inuyasha should have scented the demon's mate on him.

As Naraku continued to work at his plan of action, the sky was blanketed by thick, concrete and darker grey clouds. With a flash of lightning, rain began to patter down heavily, soaking the ground and causing Naraku to move from his spot at the window.

He glanced down at Kanna with a disapproving stare, “You will not go unpunished. I am surprised you attempted to hide such things from me, Kanna. Your behavior is much like that I expect from Kagura.” He wasn't at all daunted when the girl didn't respond in the slightest.

He walked to a dusty jar, and opened it, the sickening beats of a healthy heart filling the room. It was loud, louder than the booming thunder or the whip-cracks of lighting outside. He took it in his hand.

“Are you prepared?”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Woffy: I don't and won't ever have the heart to have Naraku rape Sesshomaru (I've never been a fan of those types of fics), so no one has to worry about that. But Naraku (and I) likes to mess with Sesshomaru's mind. A lot.

Anyway, this chapter didn't have too much in it in the way of action, but it was important in showing us Sesshomaru's mindset and where this will lead. Yes, his thoughts are confusing and they're supposed to be. With that in mind, why not review? I'm rather curious as to everyone's thoughts on this (especially in the way Sesshomaru and Kagome are interacting). Am I heading more and more towards OOC? I truly wouldn't be surprised, but I'd like to amend anything I can.

Thanks for the review asialisek! ^_^ It's much appreciated. I believe the comment above settled your hopes. What does Ganbarimasu mean, if you don't mind me asking?