InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rock, Paper, Scissors: Love Beats All ❯ Love Beats All ( Chapter 14 )

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Chapter Fourteen: Love Beats All

"Sango!" The demon slayer darted a furtive look to the Chained Ones before focusing her attention on Kagome, who'd called to her from the ground. She was motioning for her to come down. Her forehead wrinkled in brief anxiety - it looked like a group meeting. She agilely brought Kilala into a wide arc, turning the flying two-tail around and into a startling dive. The beast landed with barely a jolt to show for its swift drop and Sango swung her legs over to dismount, giving Kagome and the two dog brothers a measuring look. "What is it? You guys look worried..." she began, unable to mask her apprehension for horrible news.

Kagome was giving her that look again. No single emotion could really label that expression. It was, originally, a product of Kagome's very own. She wore it when Inuyasha had said something thoughtless, when Inuyasha had done something thoughtless, and when Inuyasha had said or done something thoughtful...but other than that, Sango had only ever saw it in the hot springs when they'd talked together. She was instantly disgusted and exasperated with Inuyasha and shot him a glare that proved it. He stared back at her with genuine puzzlement.

"Okay, spill! What'd you do this time?!" Inuyasha just stood there stupidly for a moment before regaining his wits about him and shouting,

"I haven't done anything! Why're you jumpin' my case for all of a sudden?! Fuckin' "Piss Off Inuyasha Day" around here or somethin'...?" Sango was unmoved, to say the least.

"Kagome doesn't look happy - and usually, you're the one to blame when that happens! So what was it this time? Foot-in-mouth syndrome?" She took an intimidating step forward, forcing Inuyasha to retreat a step under her speculating eye. Sango didn't consider herself one to be reckoned with when speaking in Kagome's defense. "And don't give me that "she started it" bull, either! You're always the first to ignite the inferno!"

"I'm telling you, it wasn't me this time!" Inuyasha blasted back, crossing his arms and turning away to avoid her fury. His features slackened with more than the usual degree of nonchalance.

"Uh oh. The other look," she said, an ominous chill slithering down her spine. Not a muscle on Inuyasha's body showed even the slightest response to Sango's sudden concern, save for his dog ears twitching a couple of times. "And your ears ticked, too. Oh no, it's worse than I thought!" This time Inuyasha did respond, turning to fix her with a truly lost expression - with which Sesshomaru and Kagome could seemingly relate. She explained, "Every time that Kagome gets that strange look like she isn't sure whether she's happy or sad and Inuyasha gets that extra-careless attitude, something terrible happens." She looked between the two suspicious culprits convictingly - and they looked every bit the guilty as they rushed to abandon said expressions. For a long time, nobody spoke or looked directly at one another. It was Sango who finally broke the uncomfortable silence. "So...what is it?"

Inuyasha abruptly looked to Kagome by way of answer, diverting the demon slayer's inquisitive look to the futuristic teenager. Kagome was obviously searching for the right words to tell her about whatever was so bad. As Sango waited, she let her mind wander towards possible answers. She started thinking about how Kagome would tell her that they would be forced to retreat from the Chained Ones, as they were oblivious to every attack. And probably of how Inuyasha had sworn to fight to the death anyway, despite the hopelessness. That was probably why Kagome was giving her that look right now. She really wished the girl would just show her temper instead, as that look always made Sango want to cheer her up. It was taking every ounce of her will-power not to seize Kagome in a bone-crushing bear hug, as it stood. Kagome was looking absolutely distraught now, barely meeting her eye as she said in a peculiarly mousy voice,

"It's about Kohaku." Ice. All over. Her mind refused to allow her face to return to normal, leaving it in a helplessly shocked expression. The mere mention of her brother was going to do this to her...? For how long must she grieve? She felt like she was going to have to swallow soon, as her heart appeared to have taken up residence in her throat, but still had no control over her body. Kohaku, who had died in her very arms only hours ago. Kohaku, whom she was forced to go against again - even if it was only his soulless body this time. Kohaku, the source of this incredible pain that she had to hide - hide until she could hardly feel it anymore. If she allowed herself to realize the full extent of her misery, she would be the death of her friends during this battle. They were counting on her. She had to remain strong for the friends she had left. "Sango? Sango, are you okay?" She instantly returned to herself, putting her features into check as she shoved down the lump in her throat. She smiled half-heartedly at Kagome.

"Yes, I'm alright. What about Kohaku?" she said, meeting her friend's eye with steadiness she believed herself incapable of. Kagome only looked to her for a moment before breaking eye contact with her to gaze over her shoulder. She turned to face Sesshomaru, who Kagome was obviously passing her off to, and raised her eyebrows with a touch of annoyance. "Well? What is it then? I feel like I'm getting the run-around from all you guys. Just tell me, already!" Sesshomaru regarded her with calm indifference, his eyes boring into hers without even the slightest hint to whether he was as disturbed as the others. For the first time since she'd come out of the sky on Kilala, she felt like she was going to get a straight answer. Sesshomaru suddenly looked over her shoulder, scanning the others' faces as he searched for someone else to shoulder the task on to and snatching the expectant look from Sango's features. She sighed, throwing her hands up. And then he spoke.

"You feel strongly about your brother." Sango was instantly on her guard at that statement. Why did this guy always have to so creepily state the obvious? It was one of the lesser reasons she'd christened him the "Ice Lord." Miroku, Rin, and Shippo sidled over to the rest of them, taking advantage of the Chained Ones' relenting pause, but Sango completely ignored them. She was entirely focused on this argument with Sesshomaru now.

"Of course I do! He's my - was my brother, and I love him!" she corrected, pressing her adamant personality onto him whether he liked it or not. She wasn't going to back down, no matter what he threw at her. This was definitely leading up to something she wasn't going to like. "What's that have to do with Kohaku?" Sesshomaru turned slightly to where his back was slantedly turned to the rest of the group, but from Sango's position his face was still visible. And he was scowling...

"Love," he stated flatly. And then he let an eerie stretch of silence overtake the word. After awhile, the stillness had reached a point of maddening tension that Sango could not and would not stand for. She was about to demand her answers from one of her more reasonable, less freakish group members when, "That nonsensical word is the most laughable term to have ever disgraced intelligent language."

Sango was speechless. She whipped her head around to look at Kagome, nearly giving herself whiplash in the process, and saw that her friend was equally incapacitated. Miroku and Inuyasha were staring discreetly at him from the corner of their eyes, both appearing taken aback at the strange outburst. Even the two children had stopped bickering (Rin had been poking Shippo in the arm again and again, much to the kitsune's annoyance) to gaze up at the feudal lord in baffled disbelief.

Rounding on Sesshomaru's self-confident pillar of a figure, which still refused to turn and meet her enraged glare, Sango couldn't form a single word. This was not due to having nothing to say. Quite the contrary, it was a matter of deciding which insult out of billions that she should use to criticize the Ice Lord's cynical view of love. Unfortunately, before she could make up her mind, Kagome chipped in and said it all for her.

"Sesshomaru, you're wrong." And then Sesshomaru turned his head over his shoulder to meet her gaze, the rest of him following soon after. Sango was watching them stare each other down with avid interest, waiting for the next move, when she suddenly realized,

"Hey! Anyone going to get around to telling me what my brother has to do with any of this...?" Kagome and Sesshomaru held their stubborn glowers for only a few moments longer before turning to her, temporarily giving up their icy obstinance. Kagome was the first to start.

"There's a way that we can defeat the Chained Ones and...and maybe even resurrect your brother." Sango's eyes went wide as overjoyed excitement claimed her features. Kagome saw it and quickly emphasized, "Maybe! Don't get your hopes up, okay?" Her friend seemed pained at having to tell her that, but Sango's hopes weren't dampened in the least.

"Tell me how," she urged, willing to try anything at this point. Miroku and the others were listening aptly, as eager as herself to save her brother from his twice-suffered fate.

"The technique will succeed, Kagome," the taiyoukai replied, ignoring Sango. "The only obstacle to overcome is securing a willing human. Most humans tend to have a small capacity for pain, even when it is intentionally inflicted upon themselves in advancing towards an essential goal. That being said, I doubt that any human here would undergo such affliction - especially the most unbearable agony known to man - when the reward is so small." Sango snapped her eyes to him, weighing his blank expression without much success. Was he trying to say that Kohaku's life was a small reward? The Lord of the Western Lands gave her a pointed look as he finished, "If Sango's alleged "love" for her brother is enough to carry her through such pain, then there is no argument that Kohaku can be saved."

"Its power? The technique of what, exactly?" prompted Sango. She really wanted to ask what the "most unbearable agony known to man" was, but felt that she'd be supplying ammunition for Sesshomaru's cynicism of love if she did. He would take it that she was reconsidering the idea in light of the pain she'd have to go through to bring her brother back from the Next World. Not a chance. Sesshomaru looked to her from the corner of his eye.

"Tenseiga." Sango's brow knit again, glancing questioningly to the two swords at the demon lord's side. His expression was blank as he answered, "Yes, I intend to allow you to wield Tenseiga for your own purposes."

"How?" she demanded sharply, giving him a hard look for his bare statements. He returned the stare in full, but soon looked off to Kagome, sighing. Sango blinked. A sighing Sesshomaru spelled trouble.

"Kagome will explain. I'm losing patience having to repeat myself..." And then he turned around and walked off a little ways, standing on his own away from the group and staring up at the Chained Ones with another indecipherable expression passing his fair countenance. 'Frosty guy...' was Sango's last thought before turning to Kagome for the details of their plan.

As Kagome launched into a sloppier version of Sesshomaru's so-named Rock, Paper, Scissors theory, he turned his focus inward so as to refrain from stepping in and taking over the briefing himself. He very seldom experienced headaches but, sure enough, he was feeling a hellish one creeping up on him now. He knew that Kagome could be a stubborn handful, but he had no idea that her friends were exactly the same. It was like an entire brigade of Inuyashas - except that he was forbidden to attack them. He brought a couple of fingers to his temple, frowning as he watched the Chained Ones in the distance.

They weren't attacking. Why? Naraku could be deceptive and calculating...but he was also very cocky. It was possible that he was simply waiting for their best shot so as to take them down at their strongest. To prove a point, he supposed. Yes, that was probably it. He had discerned their regrouping and plotting and decided to hold off until they launched their new attack. How ignorant of the pathetic hanyou.

The headache was definitely bordering a migraine now and Sesshomaru pushed his hair back, sliding his fingers through it exhaustedly and resting his forehead in his palm. This was ridiculous! This plan needed to be executed immediately, not whenever Sango felt she had all the facts. He spun on heel and let his hand fall from his head, rearranging his features until they were back to their usual calm indifference. Kagome had already finished explaining everything to the other human woman and now the demon slayer seemed to be nodding in firm agreement. Sesshomaru could easily see that there would be no problem with the plan, since Sango was obviously intending to carry it out as planned, so why was this headache only intensifying with every second that passed? He mentally shook it off, choosing to ignore the pain. It was a small annoyance compared to most he'd gone up against.

He made his way back to the group again (but at a leisurely pace, in keeping with his fixed expression) and gave the demon slayer an idle look. "Your decision?" he asked casually, as though it meant nothing to him either way. Sango glared up at him with fire dancing in her brown eyes. With such a spark in them, he nearly mistook her for Kagome. A quick mental jar at that thought left him stupefied. Kagome had such a spark in her eye? Just when had he noticed that...? He involuntarily scowled at himself.

"Like you need to ask?! Give me that sword!" she snapped, her eye flicking towards the Chained Ones. Looking at her brother for motivation, of course. Sesshomaru admired her courage - or was it ignorance? Did she really understand the immensity of the pain that she would have to endure? Splitting one's soul had to be one of the worst sorts of pain a human or demon alike could undergo...

"Do you understand the full impact of your decision?" he asked, unsure why he would even care to begin with. In splitting her soul, the monster would be defeated and the battle won. What did it matter what the human woman would have to suffer through? Sesshomaru glanced to Kagome. And was surprised when he caught her looking right back at him. He didn't look away, but instead allowed his eyes to remain locked with hers, hoping to understand what it was that he was seeing there.

"Yes, I understand!" was Sango's heated reply. Sesshomaru didn't acknowledge her but continued to watch Kagome, who continued to watch him. She had to be worried for her friend, in knowing how it felt to have one's soul torn, and was looking at him with that look because...well, why? Why was she looking at him like that for?

"Sesshomaru? Kagome? Hello, anyone home in there?" was Inuyasha's obnoxious jeer. Sesshomaru recognized Kagome's expression from Sango's earlier description: it was as though she were both happy and sad at the same time. How could anyone feel such a way, much less express it so simply? And, above all, why? Why was she feeling that way right now? She should be sad for her friend's approaching torture; there was nothing to be pleased about!

"Oh! Kagome was telling me about this!" was Shippo's excited cry. Kagome was smiling at the taiyoukai now, the previous expression falling away in an instant. Sesshomaru refused to take his eyes off of her, determined to get to the root of that perplexing look. Their eyes remained on one another’s, doggedly staring back as though unable to break the connection. She didn't look at all sad now. Which left him with the same question as before: what was there to smile so pleasantly about?! "It's called a Staring Contest!" Shippo's high-pitched explanation was finally enough to break whatever spell they'd both been under as they tore themselves away from the other's eyes and focused back on the topics at hand. Kagome attended to Shippo, while Sesshomaru turned to Sango.

"Very well. I will warn you that if you release the sword before your soul has been entirely separated into halves, then the technique will have to be repeated in order for the Konkatsu to be realized. What you will be tested with is capable of unhinging a full demon's mind - and so it is unlikely that you will be at yourself once this has been - "

"Let me do it," interrupted Miroku. All eyes swiveled to the robed monk as he stepped forward, staff in hand and an expression of sheer resolve over his face. "I don't want Sango having to do this. If all it takes to unlock the sword's power for her is a split soul, then let it be mine." Sesshomaru tacked his gaze to him for a moment, thoughtful, before insinuating,

"And what if the wielder's soul is the only acceptable means?" Miroku looked back at him, silent, and Sesshomaru knew that there was no point in arguing with him. He seemed sure that he was right - and he was.

"Miroku, no. It's my brother. I want to be the one to take the pain for him." Sesshomaru was flabbergasted (only on the inside, of course) at this strange little turn of events. How could these humans argue over who was to experience this unthinkable torture? It was as if they actually wanted to be in pain!

"Sango," Kagome began, attracting everyone’s attention at once. Sesshomaru was still pretty floored at Miroku and Sango's fighting over such a lewd task, but he was even more shocked when he realized how easily Kagome received attention when she spoke. Her friends must really respect her. "Sango, the pain is a lot. I almost split my soul a little while ago and it was enough to turn me into a puddle of goo; I couldn't even think, let alone move. I can't even imagine how bad it would be if you split it all the way." Kagome's eyes were unfocused and her forehead wrinkled, telling all who looked upon her that she was recalling a highly unpleasant memory. Sango seemed sympathetic and curious at first, but when she spoke -

"So am I supposed to just give up on Kohaku then? Is that it?" The light returned to Kagome's eyes as she looked to Sango with something of hurt and surprise warring over her features.

"No, that's not it at all, Sango! I'm just saying that, maybe..." she bit her lip, making Sesshomaru stare hard at her. What was it with that little gesture? He watched closely as she worried her lip a bit more before continuing, "Maybe you should let Miroku uncover the Konkatsu for you, after all. You're the only one here who cares enough about Kohaku to use the healing power of Tenseiga, but if you've used up all of your energy by bringing out the Konkatsu, then nobody will be left to use it on Kohaku." Sesshomaru's eyes briefly widened at Kagome's unexpected flash of brilliance. She thought exceptionally fast for a human...

"And besides," came Miroku's voice, stepping forward to Sango. He took her hands in his, his tone and manner serious. "I have to fulfill my vow to you." I'll save him, Sango. I swear it to you. I'll find a way to save your brother. For you. Sesshomaru smirked, amused that the monk was really so loyal as to hold up to his oaths. Perhaps he'd given the robed human too little credit. Which reminded him,

"And who's to say that I would allow you to wield Tenseiga, monk? Especially after all of your talk of my not being a teammate?" The monk and demon slayer froze, their hands still joined between them. Sesshomaru frowned at them, not sure whether he was satisfied with their reaction or not.

"Sesshomaru, please..." implored Kagome's familiar voice. Sesshomaru allowed his eyes to fall shut for a moment, slowly reopening them to look at the oddly-dressed human girl. "For Sango, at least? And Kohaku! We've tried for so long to help him..." Sesshomaru regarded her through half-closed eyes, considering her words - which was more than he did for most of the humans he came across.

"Feh! Quit groveling at the asshole's feet, already! It's making me sick over here," spat Inuyasha from the sidelines. Sesshomaru shot him a serrating glare that his half-brother returned in full. "If you're going to let him use the damned sword, then do it! Stop making Kagome beg like that!" Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at him before looking back to Kagome. He was feeling something strange now and it was something that he didn't particularly like, as well. It was as though he was sad, but pitying at the same time. What was it...? He steadied his expression and decided that whatever it was, it made him want to give Kagome what she wanted.

"For Kohaku, then." Not that he'd admit that it was for Kagome. At least not until he figured out why he wanted to give into her so badly...

"Thank-you, Sesshomaru," she said softly, smiling warmly at him. He refused to ponder why the smile had erased the earlier sensation and instead directed his attention to Miroku, drawing his sword and offering him the handle. The monk reached out for it, but paused as the taiyoukai said,

"Remember, do not let go of the sword until the Konkatsu has been achieved. When the sword pulses and the pain ceases, you will know that you have accomplished the technique." Miroku darted his eyes up from the Tenseiga to acknowledge his words, immediately returning them to the hilt of the weapon with a nod. "Grasp the sword," he instructed. Miroku obeyed, instantly falling to his knees on the ground.

Kagome watched as Miroku collapsed on the ground, doubling over as she had done when grasping Tenseiga. Sango rushed to his side as he blanched, his eyes wide and unseeing - nothing but pain was crossing his mind at that moment, Kagome knew. He trembled, constantly trembled with the pain, and his jaw suddenly dropped in a silent scream. His vocal chords must have been petrified with agony. Kagome clenched her fist and closed her eyes, standing on the sidelines helplessly. She couldn't do anything more than what Sango was doing...and perhaps it was better for him, the less people that crowded him right now. Poor Miroku...

She felt the tears stinging, but kept her eyes tightly closed so that they wouldn't show. It wasn't going to help make anything easier if she started bawling over it, right? She took a deep, shaky breath as someone came to stand before her. Sesshomaru or Inuyasha, she guessed half-heartedly. Taking another steadying breath, she opened her eyes and looked at the waist of her guest. A sword and an empty sheathe were tied to the person's belt.

"Sesshomaru," she said quietly, more as an affirmation to herself than an acknowledgment. He reached up and put one of his cool, taloned hands to the side of her hot face. The tears were still burning to make their escape, so she took another deep breath and closed her eyes tightly, holding the breath as if it would lock away her tears better.

She felt him step forward and wasn't even surprised when he slid his hand from her face and brought her into a one-armed embrace. She tried to hold them back for a little longer, but when Miroku's disembodied gasp came from somewhere behind Sesshomaru, she felt them pour out onto Sesshomaru's comfortingly-soft mokomoko. She brought her hands up to clutch onto the fluff and his shirt, keeping her eyes closed and just letting herself breathe for awhile.

"I'm sorry...this isn't helping any," she apologized, disappointed in herself at breaking down in front of the one guy who could keep his cool in any circumstance. Well, unless Rin was involved. "I just can't stand to see my friends in pain like that...!" She held tighter to the mokomoko, blinking away the remaining tears. After some time had passed, Sesshomaru spoke.

"Why?" he asked her. Kagome tensed, pulling away from him slightly to look up at him with eyes that were widened ever-so-slightly in surprise. He gazed down at her with genuine curiosity, apparently awaiting an answer. Her eyebrows knit, confused as to how he wouldn't understand.

"Isn't it obvious? It's because - "

"The sword pulsed!" Inuyasha's voice came from just behind Sesshomaru and she jumped. The taiyoukai looked down at her with something of anger or curiosity playing over his features before turning to face the rest of the group, which had been hidden from Kagome's view by the demon lord's broad figure. When he stepped forward, Kagome could see Inuyasha standing there. It looked as if he'd come over with Sesshomaru. He glanced back at her with a worried look and Kagome smiled. "You okay now?" he asked, giving her the once-over. Kagome felt a warm flush pass over her cheeks.

"Yeah, I'll be fine..." He seemed puzzled when she blushed, but immediately adverted his attention to Miroku as Kagome started towards them. Miroku was lying flat on the ground, pale and in a cold sweat that was emphasized by his quivering. Sango had set his head in her lap and was obviously doing her best not to burst into tears as Kagome had.

She wouldn't allow herself to take another step towards the two humans; her eyes were already beginning to well up with fresh tears. She slid her eyes away from them and let them land on the two children, who were hugging each other and squalling. She choked and shook her head roughly, hoping to dispel the tears, and turned herself around and away from the rest of the group. All she could see was Inuyasha and the Chained Ones now.

"Sango, take the sword and save your brother. Miroku will be fine," she said hollowly, her voice low and uneven as she struggled to swallow the tears. One slipped down her face and she scowled, dashing it away as Inuyasha watched her in blatant bewilderment. "Hurry before the Chained Ones decide to attack and one of us are injured! We can't just wait and needlessly risk each other!" There was a long, stagnating pause before -

"Right!" A rustle of clothing and a metallic clang was heard before Sango darted past Kagome, Tenseiga in hand as she ran towards the enemy. "Kilala!" And the two-tail appeared at her side, running alongside her, before Sango leapt onto her back and went flying towards the Chained Ones.

"That barrier's coming down," Kagome said, suddenly determined and drawing her bow and arrow as she aimed for Kohaku. She glanced to Inuyasha to be sure he had Tetsusaiga at the ready. When she saw that he had, she released her arrow with the finesse of a professional archer.

"Wind Scar!" Sango flew above the attacks as they past and quickly resumed her position as they made contact with the "impervious" barrier which flashed out of sight in an instant, just as before. This time, though, Naraku hadn't prepared for what was in store for him. Where he'd only expected them to attack, they had chose to heal.

As Sango threw herself from Kilala's back, plummeting only six or seven feet before gracefully stomping a landing, Sesshomaru snuck behind her and grabbed her up, dashing after Sango in case she was in need of an extra hand. When Kagome glanced over Sesshomaru's fluff-smothered shoulder, she saw that Inuyasha was in close pursuit as well. Kagome focused back on Sango as she stepped forward with Tenseiga in hand.

As Sesshomaru set her down, Kagura performed her infamous Dance of Blades at the unsuspecting Sango - who instantly shielded herself with her hiraikotsu. Guess she wasn't as unsuspecting as Kagome had thought. Luckily, since hiraikotsu wouldn't have been nearly enough to ward off such a powerful attack, Inuyasha had used his Backlash Wave to counter Kagura. The attack flew back at her, but Kanna's mirror was still in play and the attack was simply flung back into the battlefield anyway.

As Sango swung Tenseiga, obviously seeing the pallbearer's imps around Kohaku, Sesshomaru drew Tokijin and sent masses of blue wave-like energy into the regurgitated Dance of Blades. It and the Dance of Blades were then sent sprawling back towards the Chained Ones as Inuyasha performed another Backlash Wave.

Kagome leaned forward to get a look at the two dog brothers, wondering why Inuyasha had used the Backlash Wave twice in a row. He'd never done that before. As Inuyasha and Sesshomaru nodded to one another in silent commendment, Kagome understood: they'd collaborated the attacks. Sesshomaru had told Inuyasha to follow up Tokijin's attack with the backlash wave to send a more powerful attack the Chained Ones' way. However, if it was only going to be thrown back at them...? They couldn't keep using the Backlash Wave! It took energy to keep performing that sort of thing!

But, as Sango lifted up the limp, chainless Kohaku to drape him over Kilala, Kagome understood. The monster was already disbanded!

"Wait! Kagura and Kanna never died, though! Kanna's mirror is still in effect!" Kagome urgently rattled as she desperately grabbed a fistful of Sesshomaru's shirt. He stared down at her as though she were the most idiotic pest on earth - and he did it with a smile, too. Kagome was undeterred. "What're you smiling about?! That attack - !"

"Got 'em!" whooped Inuyasha, a self-confident ring to his tone. Sango flew low overhead, making to land with Kohaku next to the still-freaked Miroku. Kagome craned around to look at the Chained Ones, still clutching Sesshomaru's shirt as though keeping him from escaping while she turned away, and gasped.

"But how could that have happened?! Naraku still has their hearts, so they can't die! That attack should have been flung right back at - !"

"Does everyone here complain when pain is avoided?" Sesshomaru's voice asked from behind her, his hand working at her delicate fingers as he tried to disentangle them. She let him loose as she turned on him. He was smirking, a bemused tone to his voice when he next spoke, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a group of masochists." Kagome had the unbearable urge to hug him right then and she didn't quite understand why. Was she simply relieved that he was acting relatively human for a change? Maybe.

"Chained Ones. Gone. Why?" How she managed to be sarcastic with that insatiable sense of humor that Sesshomaru had just tossed in her face, she didn't know. But she knew one thing, she definitely wanted answers to this unforeseen, very welcome twist of plot. Sesshomaru looked over at the black, charred spot on the grass a few yards away; it looked like those action movies after a helicopter had just exploded or something.

"The Chained Ones were a product of a dark ritual which called for sacrifices. Naraku had to actually kill his incarnations before they could be part of the new monster. I suspect that when his incarnations were facing the exact moment of their deaths, he returned their hearts so that they would be irreversibly murdered. That's why Kanna's mirror did not react to the attack; the Chained Ones had been done in the moment that Kohaku was revived, just as predicted." Kagome nodded comprehendingly, but followed his gaze when Sesshomaru turned to look back at Sango, Miroku, and Kohaku. When Kagome turned, she saw that the children had stopped crying now that Miroku was shakily sitting upright, though with much help from Sango. He still didn't seem at himself and was still shaking like a frightened Chihuahua, but at least his eyes weren't as wide now.

"The pain must have been unbearable. To actually split it in two..." Kagome said quietly. She sensed Sesshomaru looking down at her and raised her head to meet his eye. He was looking down at her with barely-visible puzzlement. "It really hurt when I just nicked mine, so I can only imagine what Miroku must be feeling right now." Sesshomaru's brow lowered and Kagome decided that he must have taken what she'd said as ingratitude. She rushed to make amends. "Er, not that anyone's blaming you for Miroku, though! Thank-you for lending us your sword. I'm really grateful that you'd let us borrow it for Kohaku - and I'm sure Sango feels the same, really!" Sesshomaru seemed to take it as satisfactory and looked away from her, staring at the huddle of humans and children with another expressionless facade. She followed suit, releasing a relieved sigh. She wanted to make sure that Sesshomaru didn't feel insulted since he had been receiving less-than-welcoming treatment from a certain blue-robed monk.

"Perhaps, Kagome, I let them borrow the sword for you..." Kagome whipped her head around to get a look at his face, but he was already starting towards Sango and the others to reclaim his sword. Had he really meant that...? He couldn't just be joking about something he'd said so seriously! Kagome stopped watching Sesshomaru only when Inuyasha walked past with a,

"You'll catch flies if your mouth hangs open like that for too long..." She then snapped her mouth closed and straightened her posture. She gave herself a few good shakes before squaring her shoulders and walking over to the rest of the group. Sesshomaru...was acting weird, to say the least. But that was no excuse for her to be so openly dumbfounded every time he attempted to say something nice! She didn't want him to stop being so kind because she reacted to stupidly, did she? She smiled. No. No, she really didn't.

But no matter what Sesshomaru said to the contrary, Kagome's belief that love was powerful enough to beat anything had been reinforced by this battle. Sango's love for her brother had destroyed the evil that Naraku had summoned, saved Kohaku from an inevitable and horrid fate, and trumped rock, paper, and scissors in its own game. Why he thought that love was such a foolish thing, Kagome didn't know - but if this hadn't convinced Sesshomaru, she wasn't sure that anything could.