InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Drives You to Unthinkable Places ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

"It's Sessho-maru! What are you doing here?" shouted Inu-Yasha, his hands instantly flying to Tetsusaiga, prepared for a battle. The sun was starting to go down and visibility was beginning to become limited. The nightly calls of some owls had already begun and a small breeze picked up, sending chills every time one came their way.

"Don't be so thick-minded, Inu-Yasha," said Sessho-maru. He flicked his hair back casually as he settled a glare on Inu-Yasha. "Why haven't you gotten rid of him yet?" he asked and pointed at Shinnaro, who thought the slender finger looked like a death sentence being proclaimed.

"That's none of your business! And you still haven't told me why you're here!" Inu-Yasha barked at his older brother. His right hand seemed to have gotten a death grip on the sword's hilt.

"Isn't it obvious? *Sigh* Little brothers are so annoying; they need to have everything spelled out for them. Think about it, Inu-Yasha. Do you really believe anyone would so willingly give away their shikon jewel shards?"

At this point, everyone shot looks at Shinnaro, who was trying very hard to look like he had nothing to with what Sessho-maru was talking about.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Once again, you are two steps behind. Not only are you slow in battle but also your mind seems to work overtime on just a simple problem. The demon that was so-called 'chasing' him, (points at Shinnaro again), was being manipulated to do so. This 'monk' is also being controlled." When no looks of sudden comprehension appeared on anyone's faces, Sessho-maru sighed inwardly at all their stupidity. It wasn't his way to be patient and all he wanted to do right now was to grab them by their necks and shake them until they understood. Deciding that this probably wasn't the best thing to do, he took a purging breath and continued. "You've been drawn into a trap. There, is that simple enough for you to understand?"

"Why do you care anyway? Isn't this what you would want to happen? How do I know if you're the one who's actually trying to-"

Jaken suddenly stepped out from behind his master and questioned indignantly, "How dare you question Lord Sessho-maru's authority?!" Inu-Yasha looked to be ready to take off the little demon's head when Sessho-maru spoke.

"That will be enough, Jaken," he said coolly.

"Lord Sessho-maru? You would tolerate his insolence?" Jaken looked incredulously at his master, wondering what it would have taken to make him like this.

"Inu-Yasha is not being insolent, Jaken. He is merely in need of enlightenment."

"So, you mean...You're not actually going to fight with Inu-Yasha?" asked Kagome. She lowered her bow and lessened the tension on the string, reluctantly of course, but she didn't know what else there was to do. It didn't appear that Sessho-maru meant them any harm.

"Just this once, I'm not here to try to take the Tetsusaiga."

"If what you're saying is the truth, then you would actually be helping Inu-Yasha. Am I right?" Miroku inquired.

"You are correct monk."

"But what I don't understand is why you are doing this. Why would you help someone you hate?"

"I don't need to tell my reasons to mortal fools like you."

"That's right! Lord Sessho-maru is above all of you!" Jaken brandished his staff menacingly before them. No one was worried though. Truth be told, they all ignored the threat from the little, green demon and directed their attention at Sessho-maru instead.

"Well, if you're so 'above us' then why are you even telling us anything? In fact, I think you're the one trying to trick us! You just want us to think-"

"Wait Inu-Yasha! He may have a point!" Miroku thrust his staff in front of Inu-Yasha to hold him back from using his claws on Sessho-maru.

"Oh, so now you're on his side, too, Miroku?" Inu-Yasha balled his hands into fists; appalled that Miroku would try to defend his bastard of a brother.

"No, I'm just saying you should think this through."

"I don't feel like thinking this through!" Inu-Yasha crossed his arms across his chest and huffed.

"Stop your bickering. I believe I've stayed here long enough. I have other matters to tend to and I don't have time to waste on you petty fools. However, I still say it would be wise of you to kill him," said Sessho-maru, then left.

"Feh! Good riddance! I still can't believe that he didn't fight me for Tetsusaiga though..."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Later on, at Kaede's hut, the group discussed the day's events while Shinnaro gathered firewood outside. He made sure that no one was watching and then went into a trance-like state. After a little while, he started mumbling, or at least what would have sounded like mumbling to anyone who happened to be listening in on him. To Shinnaro though, this was a conversation between himself and his mistress going on in a place that was magically created by her so that their minds could contact each other while the body remained where it was in the real world.

Mistress, I have insinuated myself into Inu-Yasha's group.

Excellent job, Shinnaro. By the way, what did Sessho-maru want?

I think he may be on to us, Mistress.

Hmm... He certainly is smart, or at least smarter than that slow-witted brother of his...

Mistress?

I'll check up on you later. Something has come up that I cannot ignore.

Yes, Mistress.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"What is it that you want Sessho-maru?" Kikyo said, turning her stony expression towards him. Somewhere, a lone wolf howled to the moon.

"You know very well what, Kikyo. I want to know why you are doing this."

"Don't start getting pathetic on me Sessho-maru. It's not like you to protect someone below you such as your brother, Inu-Yasha."

"That may be true but I'm making an exception this time. And besides, Inu-Yasha and the rest will find out who's behind this sooner or later."

"Do you want me to eliminate their source of information then?" asked Kikyo and gave him a cold glare.

"How dare you even suggest killing Lord Sessho-maru?! I'll have you know that Lord Sessho-maru can kill you at any time that he chooses! You are simply a weak mortal like all the others! Milord, allow me to finish off this one! There's no need to dirty your hands on a dirt clod such as this!"

"You shall not harm her Jaken. In fact, if you so much as laugh at her I, myself, will see to your execution."

"L... Lord Sessho-maru? Don't tell me you've begun to foster feelings for this human wench?" Jaken was taken aback that his lord would care for a human. Has something happened between them that he did not tell me about?

"What did you call Kikyo, Jaken?" asked Sessho-maru with blood lust in his eyes.

He snapped back to his senses immediately at the eminent threat of death. "N... nothing milord! Nothing at all!"

"That better be the last time something slips out again or I'll rip your out tongue and decorate my armor with it just so you can't say anything again. Have I made myself clear, Jaken?"

"Yes milord!"

"Good, now leave. I wish to discuss something with Kikyo. Alone."

"Yes, milord."

Throughout this whole conversation between master and slave, Kikyo watched with an amused expression. "I take it that you haven't told your servant yet, have you?"

Before he spoke, Sessho-maru flicked his eyes at Himura, Kikyo's henchman.

"Himura, why don't you go and gather some demons for me? I seem to be at a loss of them."

"Of course, Mistress," said Himura, bowed, and then left.

Kikyo looked after he left and once the bushes stopped rustling, she asked Sessho-maru again, "Well, have you?"

"I haven't. He has no reason to know of us."

"So you don't trust him?"

"Jaken has been known to sway from the path of loyalty under threat of pain or death. He cannot be trusted with such information."

Lord Sessho-maru! Y-you don't trust me??? But why? Jaken nearly started bawling until Kikyo spoke. He hid himself behind some scraggly bushes that were close enough so that he could hear without being noticed. The overhanging branch cast a shadow on his face, hiding it from view while he watched them.

"Then why haven't you ridden yourself of him yet?"

Lord Sessho-maru needs me, that's why! You wouldn't know, you stupid wench! His blood started boiling. Who does she think she is? I'll fry her!

"That is not important right now. What is, however, is the fact that you are once again attempting to kill Inu-Yasha. Why?"

Inu-Yasha? Why would Lord Sessho-maru mention the name of his hated half-demon brother? I better pay attention to this part.

"I thought you had given up on him already. You know exactly what'll happen to you if you revert back to your old self. It's already almost happened once." They stood only a few feet apart, close enough that they could see each other's chest rising and falling with each breath they took.

"I know..." said Kikyo. Tears gathered in her eyes and threatened to spill over. Finally, when she could hold them back no longer, she fell into Sessho-maru's arms sobbing. "But what can I do?! I can't help it!"

"You know Naraku was the one who caused your betrayals. He is dead, is he not? So why carry on?"

"I know that and I've already given up Inu-Yasha but my heart still can't forgive the wench that stole his heart from me, the heart that was mine! The heart that was weak enough to turn to another woman! I'll never forgive that weakness! That is why I am doing this!" She beat her hands on his chest in frustration. That he even allowed her to do so and carry on was strange enough.

He asked a question to help her take her mind off that topic. "Kikyo, those jewel shards that you've sent with that monk...they were fake weren't they?"

"They are simply replicas of the real ones that I have," she said matter-of-factly. As Sessho-maru expected, she stopped crying and collected her dignity about herself again.

"So you gave them counterfeits to make them trust your monk?" Sessho-maru watched her movements, his cold eyes piercing into her as though measuring her soul, or what was left of it.

"That and the fact that they are also tracking devices which allows me to find Inu-Yasha and his little friends whenever I want."

Sessho-maru chuckled, "You really are persistent aren't you? However, I am still against this. You really should stop if you're to survive."

"What am I to do then?! How can I forget him?" Kikyo beseeched Sessho-maru's help, tossing away the last of her dignity and poise. She was so desperate to forget everything, desperate to forget the hurt.

After a long pause, Sessho-maru finally offered to help her. "Come with me. Let me fill you."

"Sessho-maru..." Kikyo looked carefully into his eyes, trying to find something to contradict his words. She found nothing.

He embraced her, picked her up, and then took to the skies.

At which Jaken comes out of his hiding place and shouts after them. "Lord Sessho-maru! Don't leave without me!"

Just then, Himura came back from gathering demons to witness Sessho-maru and Kikyo leaving. His concentration wandered to this scene and he lost his hold on the demons, all of which made their escape as soon as they regained their senses.

"Mistress! Where are you going??? Sessho-maru, you bastard! Where are you taking my mistress?! Don't worry, mistress! I'll find you and save you!"

"What did you just call Lord Sessho-maru??? Why, if he were here right now you wouldn't have your head anymore!" Even though his master had just about tossed him away, Jaken still spoke in his favor.

"I don't care. As long as my mistress is safe my life is meaningless." Himura looked up at the sky forlornly. Mistress…Wait for me. I promise to come and get you. Jaken, being his usual annoying self, interrupted Himura in his thoughts.

"Aren't you the loyal one? What did she do to you to make you like this? Threaten you? Promise to look after you in exchange for your services? Or did your parents force you to work for her like mine forced me?" questioned Jaken.

"Of course not!" shouted Himura with a horrified look on his face.

"Well then, what?"

"I...I'm not sure..." He shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably under the interrogation from Jaken.

"What do you mean 'you're not sure'"?

Himura thought for a while before he answered, "I mean I don't remember how I came to serve my mistress. The only thing that I recall is seeing a blinding flash of light and then I was on my knees, before my mistress."

Jaken rubbed his chin in thought, "A 'blinding flash of light'? What could that mean?"

"I don't know, but after that all I felt was the need to do something, anything, to please Mistress Kikyo."

"So, even if she asked you to end your life by slitting your own throat, you would do it just to please her?"

"Yes. If she wanted me to do so I would have," he said as though that was all that was needed in explanation.

"That sure is strange though...Are you sure you don't remember anything before the flash of light?"

"Pretty sure...Wait a minute! What are you trying to pull?! Why are you asking me these questions? You aren't actually doing this to keep me from my mistress are you???"

"I was just thinking. You don't like Lord Sessho-maru, do you?"

"That dog has stolen my mistress!" Himura shook his fist in the direction that Sessho-maru and Kikyo had gone.

"Right, and I don't like the wench who's with him. So why don't we team up to break them apart?"
"I like your thinking, but if any harm comes to my mistress because of your plan I will break every single bone in your toady body!" Himura simulated this by breaking a twig into tiny pieces.

"As long as your wench of a mistress doesn't get any closer to Lord Sessho-maru I won't fry you to a crisp with this staff of skulls because you messed up on your part!" Jaken waved his staff dangerously in Himura's direction.

Then, they both said in unison, "Deal!" and shook hands with smug looks on their faces, each thinking about freeing their master from the other.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, back at Kaede's hut:

"Are ye sure Kagome? Perhaps ye were only distracted and didn't pay close enough attention to the shards," suggested Kaede as she leaned forward to stoke the fire.

"Maybe, but I'm quite certain that I didn't sense them," Kagome said worriedly. She picked up the shard that she wore around her neck and looked at it. We've come so far. I wonder how much longer until we gather all of them, but if my ability to sense the shards fails now how will we locate the rest? She was deep in her own thoughts when Inu-Yasha abruptly asked after her well-being.

"Are you feeling all right? You aren't sick are you?"

"No, no. I feel fine, Inu-Yasha." She forced a smile onto her face to try to allay Inu-Yasha's concern. He was not to be taken in though, but before he got the chance to say more Kaede spoke again.

"And Sessho-maru showed up but didn't fight Inu-Yasha to claim Tetsusaiga?"

"That's right. Do you think he's telling the truth about Shinnaro?" Sango asked.

"Right now I'm not sure. We'll just have to wait and see."

"But Kaede, what if, as Sessho-maru says, Shinnaro is really being controlled by some demon and is trying to harm us?"

She sighed heavily before going on. "It be too early to judge but at the rate things be going, it looks like we may have to take some action lest he prove to be trouble. For now, though, we should get some sleep. Even the greatest warriors cannot go on without rest."

A/N- I really don't know how Jaken happened to be in the service of Sessho-maru so I made up something. If anyone has any information on that part of the story, please e-mail me! Thanks a lot! ^_^