InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ For The Last Time ❯ The Coming ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha. If I did I wouldn’t have to worry about money for college. Heck, I wouldn’t have to worry about college at all! I do own this story line, though, and the new character(s) that will be introduced in later chapters. (Boy will they be a handful!)


thoughts

sessy’s/kag& #8217;s beast

“Talking”

EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER...

Kagome sighed and looked around the small cave–there had to be some comfortable place to sleep! There were nooks and crannies all along the walls that lead back into the black depths of the cavern. The problem was, though, they were all just too small!

Resignedly, Kagome picked up her yellow backpack–wow, this thing is getting light, I’ll need to go home soon–and selected a spot that looked decent enough. It seemed to be about three feet tall at its highest point, two feet deep, and six feet long.

She stopped at the niche in the wall and, kneeling, felt to see how damp it was. She was disappointed to find that it was heavily wet. Kagome gritted her teeth in frustration and looked for a place to lie down.

Sesshomaru–in his true form–lay at the back of the cave once more; in the same spot as before. It was obvious that the great Inu-taiyoukai frequented this cave–the areas on the floor and the back cave wall were worn smooth. He watched the young miko in her quest for a sleeping spot. She looked extremely annoyed and he could tell by her scent that she was quickly becoming ticked off. Sesshomaru didn’t like her scent when she was angry or annoyed–it hurt his sensitive nose. Thinking of what he could to help her, and his nose, he remembered the night when Kagome had come to him. She had slept with him–beneath his tail–when the storm had broken out.

“Miko,” he said, “come here.”

“What do you want?” she asked crossly. “And my name is Kagome! Ka-go-me! Geez, its been a month, you think you could say my name? Geez!” she muttered.

“Come,” he repeated.

“And that’s another thing! You can’t just order me around like some stupid dog!” she huffed, crossing her arms across her chest with some difficulty.

“There is a hole in your reasoning,” Sesshomaru said smoothly, simply watching the young woman.

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” she snapped irritably. She was really having a bad day. First she woke up to realize that she had started her period, then she remembered that tonight was the first night of the full moon. She had a feeling Sesshomaru would have her go with him so he could continue her training–she was right. They had left Jaken and Rin with Ah-Un (A/N: we all know Jaken can barely take care of himself, let alone Rin. ;) ) and had headed off to the cave. Before they had even gone 3 miles Sesshomaru had released his true form, grabbed her by her backpack and, depositing her on his back, took off.

Kagome was surprised when he grabbed her, so she did what any twenty-two year old girl would do when she is surprised–she squealed. (A/N: Dreamish, if you’re reading this, don’t say a word!!!) Sesshomaru was startled–slightly–when Kagome squealed. Her little squeal had hurt his ears, he growled low in a warning to shut up. Poor Kagome practically shrunk into a little ball at the enormous dog’s growl. After all, she was nearly 40 feet in the air and dangling by her backpack from the jaws of the most powerful taiyoukai in all of Japan. She was not about to piss him off–who knew what he would do to her? His intended or not. So she sat quietly on his back for the remainder of the journey–her hands in a death grip on his fur.

Sesshomaru’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “You are, in fact, a dog,” he smirked.

“Why–how–you–” Kagome sputtered. “Jerk!” she finally got out, her face red in anger.

“Is that all? Come here, then, Kagome,” he said, ignoring the insult. It was beneath him to respond to such a meaningless insult.

Kagome shut-up when she heard her name roll off the lips of the taiyoukai she shared the cave with. She meekly walked over to Sesshomaru and looked up at him. (A/N: imitates Kagome ouch! That hurts my neck!) “Yes?” she asked softly, afraid of what he might do to her. Dang, am I on a mood-swing spree or what? First surprised, then resigned, then ticked, then irritable, and now scared! Geez! I’m gonna kill whoever gave women this ordeal to go through every month! I'm sure every woman in the world will thank me.

“You will sleep with me whenever we visit this cave,” he informed her in his oh-so-favorite tone.

“Why? Why are you suddenly acting like you care about me? This entire month I’ve been with you, you’ve barely spoken to me outside of training. When you did see fit to speak to me, you rarely called me by my name. It was always ‘miko’ or ‘woman’. You didn’t even defend me to Jaken when he would say things about me. All you ever said to him was ‘She will travel with us’; nothing else! It seems like you don’t want people to know that I’m you’re intended!” Kagome yelled. Her breathing had become ragged with rage and she was trembling with the pent-up emotion. Her eyes turned a slight pink as they started to bleed red.

Sesshomaru said nothing while Kagome was talking. When she finally stopped, he waited a while for her to calm down before he defended himself. When her breathing evened out and she stopped trembling, he spoke. “I have always acted as such–you simply have failed to notice.” This insinuation made Kagome’s hackles rise. “If you wanted to speak to me, why didn’t you say something? You are at fault, too, for the silence between us. I didn’t always use your name because I do not like to sound repetitive.” Kagome–her hackles down–“hmphed!” at this. Sesshomaru smirked at her reaction and continued. “Why should I defend you to Jaken when you can defend yourself? You are smarter than him, correct?” Kagome nodded. “Then prove it next time. As for people knowing that we are intended, if you want them to know, then why don’t say something? If you tell someone and they seek conformation, then send them to me. I will set them straight in the matter of our betrothal.” He was rewarded with one of Kagome’s bright smiles. “Now, lay down and sleep. We will be up with the sun tomorrow to train.”

Kagome nodded and went to get her stuff from where she had dropped it when Sesshomaru had called her by name–next to the small niche in the wall of the cave. She was a little bit upset when she found the bottom of her stuff soaking wet. She sighed and picked it up anyway.

When Kagome returned to Sesshomaru’s side, she got her sleeping bag out of her pack and checked it over. It was a little damp but nothing too serious. She stretched it out beside him and crawled in. Quickly changing into her nightclothes, Kagome stretched out comfortably and fell asleep.

Sesshomaru watched the young miko as she got ready for bed. When she had crawled into her sleeping bag and was still; he covered her with his tail–the days had grown colder due to winter–and lay his head down for his own well-deserved rest.

He was nearly asleep when he heard a mumbled and muffled “G’night” from beneath his tail.

Sesshomaru waited until he thought Kagome was asleep before responding. “Good night,” he whispered softly.

Unbeknownst to him, though, Kagome was awake–although just barely–and heard. That night, as she drifted off to sleep, a soft smile adorned her face.

Sesshomaru awoke just before sunrise the next morning. The sky was a soft dove gray–false dawn; light gray clouds drifted lazily across the sky, their edges lined in silver. Judging from the light of the soon-to-be-morning, he determined there was thirty minutes left until the sun began to rise and the day began. He let Kagome continue to sleep while he planned what they would do that day.

She needs to continue her training, Sesshomaru thought. She still hasn’t been able to unlock her true form. She needs to clear her mind and let go of all her emotions. That is the key to unlocking her true form correctly–a calm, assertive energy. (A/N: Dreamish, don’t say a word!!!) Anger only clouds the mind when in your true form. That was why I lost my arm to Inuyasha; I was mad because he had been able to destroy my armor and draw the Tessaiga. He thought I had killed Kagome and that angered him which strengthened him beyond belief...you would be the same way now...what do you mean?...if you thought someone killed her you would be pissed more than he was...why do you think that?...because you love her...no I don’t...Don’t deny it. I know. If you didn’t love her you wouldn’t keep her warm during the night, you wouldn’t have agreed to mate her, and you wouldn’t be training her...I don’t do those things because I love her...oh yeah? Then tell me, why do you do those things?...out of respect for her late father’s wishes. I may not care about those older than me, but it is a part of my honor to respect their wishes...sure it is...Quiet!

Sesshomaru checked the sky to find the sun starting to rise. He decided it was time for the young miko beneath his tail to awaken–whether she liked it or not.

He removed his tail and looked at Kagome. She still lay sleeping soundly–tucked into her cozy sleeping bag. Her head and shoulders, as well as her arms, stuck out of the top and her hair lay all around her face–framing it so that she looked childlike and innocent. Her face had a soft glow and seemed to radiate peace in her aura. The soft smile from the night before still graced her lips.

Why is she smiling?...who knows.

“Kagome,” he said, “Kagome, it is time to wake up. You must continue your training this day.”

Kagome barely stirred. She simply turned to lay on her side and face Sesshomaru. (A/N: She had been facing towards the entrance.) “Five more minutes, mom. I don’t want to go to school yet,” she muttered.

Sesshomaru wondered what she meant. Is the miko educated? Wait, she called me MOTHER!...aaaahahahahaha! She thinks you’re her mom! Hahahaha!

Sesshomaru growled slightly. “Miko, it is time to wake up!”

“I said five more minutes, mother! I just want to sleep...” she mumbled the last part into her pillow.

Hahahaha! She still thinks you’re her mom! Hahahaha!

That was it–Sesshomaru had had it. If the miko wasn’t going to wake up when he told her nicely– (A/N: As nice as Sesshomaru gets!)–then he would wake her up by other means. He grabbed the side of her sleeping bag in his jaws. Standing, he carried the now wide-awake Kagome out of the cave.

“What are you doing?!” she screeched, clinging to her sleeping bag for what she was sure was dear life.

When they got outside, Sesshomaru lowered his head until Kagome was a foot of the ground. Then, he dropped her.

“What was that for?” she asked indignantly. “What’s the big idea? I didn’t know you were such an anti-morning person. Or is this your strange idea of a joke?” She sat there ranting and rubbing her sore bottom.

“I gave you two opportunities to wake up. You ignored them both...” he paused. Say it! Go on, say it! You know you want to! He took a breath and continued, “you ignored them both and called me ‘mother’ both times.”

Kagome sat there in shock. He did that just because I wouldn’t wake up?...he sure did...who are you?...you’re youkai self...whatever. Wait a minute...what?...he said I called him mother!...sooo?...that’s hilarious! Kagome snickered; she coughed and snorted trying in vain to hold back the laughter in her chest.

Sesshomaru quirked an elegant eyebrow at the miko’s behavior. She sat there–one hand on her stomach, the other over her mouth–choking and snorting. She seemed to be holding back laughter; in a must ungainly way. If they had to be mates–she would learn some manners.

Kagome made the mistake of looking up at Sesshomaru. He stood over her, looking down, with an eyebrow cocked. The position was just so funny to her, she lost any control she may have had and burst out into peals of laughter. She held her stomach with both hands and nearly rocked back and forth she was laughing so hard. She rocked too far forward once and fell forwards onto her stomach. After a second of pause, she laughed so hard she pounded the ground with her fist. She rolled onto her side and curled into a fetal position still laughing.

After a good five minutes of laughter, Kagome collected herself. Getting up, she looked at Sesshomaru–who had lain down a few feet away–and asked, “What’s on the agenda for today?” with as much pep as she could muster.

Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow again. “We will continue your training,” he said flatly.

“So how am I doing in the development of my abilities?” she asked. (A/N: I really don’t like the word ‘powers’ it seems so overused, so I think I will use this one!!!)

Sesshomaru thought about this for a moment before speaking. “You have yet to unlock your true form–”

“Duh,” Kagome interrupted.

Sesshomaru sent her a glare that could wither the toughest weed. Kagome shut up and sat down between his forepaws, leaning against his chest as he continued, “–but you’re poison capabilities are coming along as well as can be expected.”

“What does that mean?” Kagome huffed, forgetting her precarious position.

“You have developed at a good speed. In fact, you are doing better than I expected,” he commented.

Kagome blushed at his praise, burying her face in his fur and catching his strong scent. “Thanks,” she said. “So what do I need to do to unlock my true form?”

“You must clear your mind and let go of all your emotions. The key to unlocking your true form correctly is a calm-assertive energy,” Sesshomaru explained.

“What happens if I am angry? You looked pretty pissed the first time I saw you transform,” Kagome pointed out.

“So I was. Remember this–anger can unlock your true form, but it is extremely dangerous. You must quickly get yourself back in hand. I did not; that is why I lost my arm.” He flexed his recovered limb in a silent thanks to the miko resting against his chest, between his great forepaws.

Kagome understood. She stood up and walked over to his leg. Laying her hand on it, she looked up at him and smiled. “I don’t regret healing your arm. I would have regretted not healing your arm. You are happier with them both, right?”

Sesshomaru nodded at the young woman. What is this feeling I have?...uh, love?...impossible...why?...because This Sesshomaru does not ‘love’ anyone...oh, contraire...what?...you love Rin as your daughter, you loved your parents, and you love this woman as your mate...I DO NOT!

“Come,” Sesshomaru said, rising to his feet. “Get ready so we may begin your training.”

Kagome looked up at him, (A/N: She does that often doesn’t she? I wonder if she ever gets kinks in her neck, hmmm.) He seemed to be troubled about something. She couldn’t really tell, though, because it was gone the next instant. She wasn't even entirely sure she had seen it in the first place. “Alright,” she said, walking back to the cave to get dressed in her workout gear.

Once she was dressed, Kagome grabbed the Tessaiga and the sword Sesshomaru had had created for her, and walked back out to Sesshomaru. She was dressed in tight black shorts that rose to her hips and fell to mid-thigh, her shirt was a tight black tank-top that hugged her curves. She wore a pair of black cordovan leather boots that reached up the her knees. Her long raven hair was tied back in a tight braid that reached down to her lower back. She carried her sword at her hip and the Tessaiga in her hands. He was waiting just outside of the entrance to the cave. When Kagome appeared, he gently picked her up and, placing her on his back, took off to the clearing where they had met a month ago. She shivered slightly as the cool breeze brushed her bare skin.

When they arrived, Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome and gently deposited her on the ground.

“Before we begin, you must know something,” he said.

“Ya, what’s that?” Kagome asked, curious and slightly leery of what he would say.

“You also need to develop your speed, strength and agility; they are critical to your rank,” Sesshomaru explained.

“What’s my rank? I didn’t even know I had one since I just became a youkai a little over a year ago,” she thought aloud.

“I am the Lord of the Western Lands, as my mate, you would be the Lady of the Western Lands. That is your rank. You would be required to look after my lands if I were to take a leave of absence. You are also expected to be able to defend yourself in an elegant and timely manner. To do those things you must have speed, strength and agility.”

“Really? Well, how about that? You really do learn something new everyday,” Kagome commented. “So where do we begin?”

“Today we will start on your speed, strength and agility training,” Sesshomaru said in his favorite monotone.

“That’s a lot! All three at once, why? Why not one at a time? I mean come on! Give me a break–not literally!–I just became a youkai and I just met up with you and now you shove all these things on me at once! Why can’t we continue to work on releasing my true form or do each of those things one at a time?” Kagome whined petulantly.

“Because,” Sesshomaru said all too patiently, “speed, strength and agility go hand-in-hand. To develop one is to develop the other.”

“Huh?” Kagome stared up at Sesshomaru with a confused look on her face.

Sesshomaru sighed inwardly, really, she could be so frustrating and dense sometimes. “When you develop strength in your stomach muscles and leg muscles, you develop your speed. When you develop your speed, your reflexes heighten. When your reflexes heighten, you are able to see attacks coming and dodge them better–thus increasing your agility.”

“Ohhhh, I see. I get it now. Alright, let’s begin.” Kagome backed a few feet away from Sesshomaru as he returned to his “human” form. Once the transformation was complete, she tossed the Tessaiga lightly to him. He caught it and situated it on his hip before drawing the fang from its scabbard. It transformed for him and didn’t burn at his touch.

I’m still amazed that the sword doesn’t reject him. I guess what Midoriko said that morning was true, he really has found someone to protect–me. Wow, I don’t think that thought will ever get old.

“Now let us begin,” he said, “slowly” lunging towards Kagome who had her sword drawn and stood in the “ready” position.

The position was ideal for training settings and actual combat. It allowed the combatant to easily attack or defend, depending on the situation. The person was slightly crouched with their feet set shoulder width apart. Their hands–depending on whether or not they held a sword–rested about six to ten inches in front of the chest and five to eight inches apart. The user leaned forward slightly and relaxed their entire body. This was what allowed for easy maneuverability–total relaxation of the muscles. If the body was tense, a muscle or ligament could tear if moved too suddenly, and sudden attacks or defenses were what counted in combat.

They had been practicing for nearly an hour when Sesshomaru stiffened suddenly. He was barely able to avoid Kagome’s sword that was aimed at his chest.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, regaining her balance. The momentum from her attack had caused her to stumble forward. She remembered to keep her sword down and out. If she were to fall, the sword’s position would keep her from running herself through or being cut by its sharp blade.

Sesshomaru said nothing; he just stared off into the distance at the line of trees a several hundred feet away. Something was moving among the bushes and Kagome heard faint voices. She raised her newly sensitive nose (A/N: Don’t ask ME how her nose became sensitive, this wasn’t even in my manuscript!) and sniffed the wind, there were several familiar scents to it. She smiled as she recognized four of them. The wind also brought the feel of all too familiar auras to her. Kagome shuddered and grimaced as she recognized who they belonged to.

She moved closer to Sesshomaru until she stood by his side and a little behind him–almost as if she was trying to escape from the news the wind bore. Sesshomaru looked to her and inwardly smiled a sad smile. He didn’t know every emotion played out in his eyes. Lucky for him, Kagome didn’t know it either. She latched onto his arm and whimpered silently, the memory still burned in her mind.

Sesshomaru lifted his arm and wrapped it around her waist, bringing her closer to him. Kagome relaxed in the circle of his embrace and clutched to his shirt. She no longer felt so afraid, but the feeling still lingered in the air around the two. (A/N: Sessy isn’t afraid, Kags is/was. The feeling just lingers.)

“Sesshomaru?” she asked concernedly, not taking her eyes of the line of trees before them.

“He is coming,” was all Sesshomaru said.


A/N: Told you!


FL: “Any better, Kags?”

Kags: “Much better, thank you. Oh, what’s the name of my sword? Does it have any attacks or is it just a regular sword?”

FL: “Good question. I really don’t know. Hey readers and reviewers, you tell me. Should Kagome’s sword have a name and special attacks? Or is it just a regular sword? If it has attacks, what are there names and what do they do? Give me all your suggestions. If I use it or part of it, the next chapter will be dedicated to you.”

Sess: “You really don’t know anything do you?”

FL: sticks tongue out at Sess “I know plenty. I just don’t know that much Japanese names and so such. Plus, I’ve never been in a real fight before–unless you count the ones with my younger brother; those can get pretty rough. So yeah, those are my excuses.”

Kags: looking around the room “Speaking of excuses, where is the king of excuses Inuyasha and his clay pot of a miko?”

FL: looks around the room “You know, I haven’t seen Inuyasha since I ‘heeled’ him...”

a loud THUMP is heard outside as well as a angry yell

Sess: “I guess we found Inuyasha.”

Kags: frowning in thought “But that still leaves the unanswered question of where Kikyou is.”

Sess: sweats nervously “I didn’t know she was missing.”

an unknown voice: “I can tell you where she is.”

FL: jumps at the voice “I know that voice! It can’t be who I think it is though, she’s working on her own story!”

Sess: hurriedly “Goodbye folks! Remember to review and leave your ideas for Kagome’s sword!”

Kags: looks at Sess funny “What did you do?”