InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sesshoumaru, sit! ❯ Deep Shadows ( Chapter 21 )

Deep Shadows

 

 

Hi all! Thank you so much everyone! Here you go! I hope you like it! Cuz after I submit this I'm going to SLEEP! -yaaawn- 

 

A special thanks to my beta-reader FluffyDemonSheepdog! You did a magnificent job! I thank you so much for everything! 

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I really don't…but I wish I did.

 

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Bozu: An informal way to refer to a boy, similar to the English term “kid” or “squirt”.

   

Kazaana: Wind tunnel.

 

Taiyoukai: Demon lord.

 

Taijiya: Demon exterminator.

  

Hiraikotsu: Sango's giant boomerang.

 

Baka: Idiot.

 

Houshi: Monk.

 

Hanyou: Half demon.

 

Youkai: demon.

 

Miko: Priestess.

   

-San: Mr., Mrs., and Miss, Sir or madam.

 

-Sama: Used to confer great respesct, like for those better in status. (Like a lord)

  

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Recap from last chapter:

 

Miroku, who had been checking out their surroundings with Sango, burst into the clearing. “You will never believe this. Lord Sesshoumaru's here!” he announced, a hint of amazement tinting his voice.

 

“What?!”

 

“He's not here to fight. And he has a crow demon with him,” the monk informed them hastily.

 

“W-where are they?!” Kagome asked in disbelief.

 

“They're coming here with Sango. I just thought I should prepare you in case Inuyasha did something rash.” Miroku gave the subject of discussion a knowing look.

 

“Feh!” The hanyou stuck his nose in the air in offense.

  

Sango and a large Kirara walked in then, followed by a very…human looking…Sesshoumaru.

 

Kagome stared.

 

Inuyasha dropped his sword. And the ever popular, “What the fuck!”

 

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CHAPTER 21:

 

“Inuyasha,” returned the now-human lord.

 

Sango stood beside him in the event Inuyasha thought to attack. She and the monk had done a double take when they saw how the lord looked. Before that shocking realization, the two had been getting ready to fight, though Sango should have realized when Kirara didn't growl or snarl at the newcomers that there was no real danger.

  

Sango's reflections were interrupted…by Inuyasha's laughter.

 

“The cur's human!” he gasped out, falling on his rump and clutching his middle.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome gasped, peeking at the silent inuyoukai, feeling the rise in his ire. Not a good sign, whether he was demon or not.

 

“I think my stomach is cramping! A human! He hates humans and he…God, the irony!” he cried convulsively, tears falling down his face.

 

“Inuyasha! Stop it! You turn human, too, remember?!” Kagome snapped. That did nothing to stop the his mirth.

 

He stayed that way for a while, laughing explosively while the school girl tried unsuccessfully to get him to quit it. Just when she was sure Sesshoumaru was going to put a stop to it himself -though how she didn't know- a loud harrumph sounded from the trees behind the taiyoukai.

 

“I can't believe that thing is related to you, lord Sesshoumaru,” a feminine voice interjected. “Even human, you are still superior to the likes of him.” Yashi emerged from the shadows, tucking a long raven lock behind her ear and giving the inu-hanyou a withering look.

 

Inuyasha was up at that, snarling at the dark haired killjoy. “Who the hell are you?”

 

The beautiful demon looked down her nose at him, hand going to her chest. “I am Yashi, ally of Lord Sesshoumaru,” she stated before extending her other arm. “You may kiss my hand.” She nodded curtly.

 

Inuyasha stared at the hand dumbly, while Sango whacked the monk with her Hiraikotsu when he moved to oblige.

 

“I swear I wasn't going to,” he defended, rubbing his head.

 

“What the hell are you doing here?” Inuyasha snapped, hand on Tetsusaiga.

 

“Helping Sesshoumaru-sama,” she said, as if he should have known, pulling her hand back. “in whatever it is he needs.”

 

Everyone turned to the demon in question.

 

“Your assistance is appreciated, but no longer needed,” he told her evenly, ignoring everyone's stares.

 

Yashi snapped her surprised gaze to the taiyoukai, but her look of confusion disappeared quickly enough. “Oh. Well, I would like to stay. If I may,” she added. “If something happened to that silly-uh…Amaya…I would like to help,” she said, brows raised confidently. “She owes me a favor, you see. I want to make sure she pays up.”

 

“We don't want you here!”

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome chided.

 

The taiyoukai nodded. “Do as you please.”

 

`Heh. You've got to admit, you need her strength right now.'

 

Sesshoumaru gave a clipped, mental warning to the tiny woman. He refused to let her irk him in front of the humans and the hanyou. Reigning in his temper seemed harder for him as a human, but he had to keep in control.

 

“So, how does it feel?”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes riveted on his brother.

 

Inuyasha's contemptuous gaze moved from the crow to his older half-sibling. “To be human, I mean.” He smirked mockingly, folding his arms. “You keep bitching about how weak they are, right? What do you think now?”

 

Kagome looked from one inu to the other, at a loss as to what to do to shut Inuyasha up…without sitting him. She couldn't do that. Not in front of Sesshoumaru. Not again.

 

The Lord's eyes hardened. “I would rather be a human than a pathetic.half-breed outcast,” he drawled, stressing every word coldly.

 

Inuyasha stiffened. “You bastard!” he hissed and lunged, sword drawn.

 

“No!” Kagome cried. “Stop!”

 

“Inuyasha!” Sango shouted after him.

 

The hanyou was deaf to everyone, his fury blinding him.

 

Sesshoumaru barely dodged the attack, jumping away from the deadly blade at the last possible instant. He felt the difference in speed acutely; he was very much like a snail in his current pace when compared to his usual swiftness.

 

Inuyasha was upon him in no time and he found he could not seem to get his limbs to move as quickly as he would like them to. He barely even saw what was coming. The hanyou's fist connected with his abdomen and he flew back, crashing to the ground.

 

“Enough, stupid mutt!” Yashi intercepted his next attack. Using her long sleeves as a whip, she lashed at him, hitting him in the face.

 

Inuyasha pulled back defensively and wiped the blood from his forehead, snarling at her. “Get out of the way! Unless you want to die, too!”

 

“Idiot,” she stated irately.

 

Kagome was at his side. “Inuyasha, what's wrong with you? Did you forget he was human? And that Tetsusaiga can't kill him as a result?”

 

Inuyasha was panting, looking at her oddly, and then his face scrunched up. “Shit!” He pulled his fist back and crashed it into an innocent tree angrily. “Yeah, I forgot.” He turned and began to walk away. “I'll check our surroundings,” he declared before disappearing.

 

“But we-”

 

“Sango,” Miroku interrupted, shaking his head at the taijiya, “that's Inuyasha speak for `I want to be alone',” he whispered. “Let him be. I'm sure he has a lot to think about.”

 

Sesshoumaru rose slowly from his place, a thin stream of blood dribbling down his chin. He winced at the pain in his stomach, standing up as steadily as he could. Damn this human body! he thought angrily. It was more fragile than he had imagined. Usually it would take plenty more blows to injure him this way…if his opponent could reach him at all.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, are you all right?” Kagome was beside him, stance agitated. “You're bleeding.”

 

He pushed her hand away when she reached to inspect the wound.

 

The school girl stepped back to retrieve her bag, eyeing him uncertainly. “Let me just see where you're hurt. I have bandages-”

 

“No. There is no time for such nonsense.” He wiped the blood with the back of his hand, never taking his eyes from her. “I have decided to help you with Naraku. We need to destroy him quickly, before he kills the girl,” he declared evenly.

 

Kagome almost tripped, nearly crashing into the crow demon behind her. He sounded unconcerned. A little too unconcerned…

 

I wonder if his turning human has anything to do with his coming here. And I wonder just how much help he can be.

 

“Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama. We appreciate it.” She smiled uncertainly. “I don't think we could do it without you.” When Myouga told them they needed him to beat the evil half demon, she didn't think he meant as a human.…but…“How did you turn human?” she asked suddenly.

 

He looked at her sternly. “That is none of your business, human.”

 

A small snort sounded near his ear. `Are you forgetting something, honey?' a forgotten little voice intervened.

 

He just barely kept from snapping at the pest.

 

Aneko sighed and crossed one leg over the other, hands behind her head. `Stubborn…stubborn.' She snuggled into the white fur comfortably.

 

“You found Naraku?” he asked seriously.

 

Kagome nodded. “Yes, but we can't attack right away.”

 

He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

 

“Well…Kikyou-”

 

“It is necessary,” interrupted the priestess suddenly, walking into the clearing, “that we wait for the correct moment to attack. Your presence here gives us a greater chance at success, Lord Sesshoumaru.” She stopped in front of him.

 

"You are leading them?" he asked mockingly, staring down at her. He snorted. “It is to be expected. The half-breed is known for his odd company.”

 

Kikyou's lips quirked. “We will wait until daybreak. When you turn back to a demon.” Her head tilted forward and she looked at him from under her lashes. “You do turn back, don't you?”

 

Sesshoumaru gave her a cold glance.

 

She smiled at him, the emotion not quite reaching her eyes. “You don't know. Well, we shall see.” She gave a small snort of laughter and turned away at his hard look. “When you do we attack.”

 

Kagome watched her disappear into the woods. Just a while ago she had refused to tell them when they would proceed with the attack…She shrugged mentally. His arrival must have affected her plans. Kagome just wanted to know what her part in it was. Whenever she asked her it was always: `you'll know when the time comes.'

 

What's that supposed to mean! I want to know so I'll be prepared! She had a stronger feeling of confidence, though, now that Sesshoumaru was helping. But she was terrified it might be too late. For Amaya.

 

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and breathed through his nose. Was it possible that he would not change back? He didn't even want to wait until sunrise. How could he possibly deal with a…delay? No. He would not think of that. It was useless to agonize over something that might occur.

 

`Very wise, darling.'

 

He made his way to the nearest tree, ignoring everyone else's existence, including the fairy's. Kagome watched him sit against it, one leg drawn up, his right arm propped over his leg. He looked ahead warily, avoiding all eye contact.

 

Kagome turned when she felt someone tapping her shoulder. It was the crow lady.

 

“Are you related to Amaya?” she asked with a quirked brow, giving her the once-over.

 

The school girl blinked at her before shaking her head. “No.”

 

“You look just like her,” she said, stepping back.

 

“Kagome-sama and Amaya-san come from the same land,” Miroku put in with a smile, stepping up to the two.

 

Yashi looked at him as if to say `who asked you?' and he cringed, laughing nervously. Sango just rolled her eyes. She'd bet anything he'd been about to grope the demon.

 

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She opened her eyes to complete darkness.

 

Not again!

 

She tried to get up, to move, but it seemed she was completely paralyzed. She just hoped it was temporary. And the pain in her chest she was supposed to be having…wasn't there. She made a second attempt to move her hand, but it seemed her nerves were out of order.

 

That scared her.

 

She tried to open her mouth, to scream, to shout out to someone, anyone. But her lips refused to move, and her vocal cords were just as functional. But her glands weren't. She could feel hot tears pooling down the sides of her face near her ears. She could feel her heartbeat quicken in panic and terror as adrenaline rushed through her body. And she could definitely feel her stomach flip-flopping, her insides on the verge of becoming outsides. But why couldn't she move? What did that monster do?!

 

The last thing Amaya remembered was acute pain in her middle as Naraku sliced his claws through her. She remembered hearing screaming as if from a distance and knowing they were her own. But that was all. She wondered if she was back in the kazaana. But if she were she should be able to move normally…shouldn't she?

 

She felt on the verge of hyperventilation and tried distancing her mind from everything around her. Thinking of where she might be in this endless darkness would drive her mad in no time. So she focused on the one thing that could rile her enough to distract her…

 

I'm going to kill you Sesshoumaru! When I get back I'll sit you until you come out through the other side of the planet! I'll make that Kaede woman give the `power of sit' to every man and woman in the western lands, so that if you bother any of them they can punish you to their hearts' content! I'll buy a thousand cats with your money and make you kiss every single one of them three times a day so it's all you do for the rest of your blasted life! And if a cat dies, I'll make you get two in its place! I'll-

 

And on the planning went. It would take a while before she got through her list of things-to-do-as-a-revenge-against-lord-baka.

 

But through her mental cursing and hissing, her tears never stopped.

 

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Miroku plopped down next to the grumpy hanyou carefully. Inuyasha had been sitting under a tree near his brother's, staring ahead darkly for nearly an hour now, and Miroku thought he might need someone to talk to.

 

“Is everything alright, Inuyasha?”

 

“No! How could anything be alright, you stupid Bozu!” snapped the half demon sourly.

 

“You mean about Sesshoumaru-sama?” he asked, unfazed.

 

Inuyasha grunted and leaned farther against the tree with his arms folded. He looked very much like a disgruntled child in that pose. “I don't give a damn about that asshole.”

 

Miroku adjusted his staff next to him. “Kagome, then?”

 

“Feh!”

 

That was as good as a confession. “So what did you do?”

 

Inuyasha shot up from his position angrily. “Why the hell would you think I did anything?!” he spat.

 

Miroku looked at him in amusement when he answered, “Because you always do.”

 

The half demon glowered. “I didn't do a thing. She's just upset with me because I almost killed the bastard. What's the big deal anyway? He's always trying to kill me.” He slumped back against the trunk. “Stupid wench.”

 

“She's avoiding you?”

 

Inuyasha refrained from answering, and settled for giving death glares to the opposite tree.

 

Miroku sighed. So Kagome isn't just mad at him. “Are you sure Sesshoumaru-sama is the only reason she's…upset with you?”

 

A stretched silence followed the inquiry, and Miroku thought the hanyou wasn't going to respond.

 

“No,” he answered darkly.

 

The monk could tell from Inuyasha's posture that any more questions on the subject were not welcome. “All right then…I'll go see what the girls are doing.” He rose slowly. “And don't worry, Inuyasha. She won't stay that way for long.” He smiled reassuringly.

 

Inuyasha knew exactly when she'd start feeling better and treating him normally. It involved a certain `S' word.

 

He huffed irritably and watched the monk approach the girls while keeping an ear on the newest, most unexpected member of their team. He tried to listen to the whispers of the two females as well, but it seemed luck was on their side. They were upwind and murmuring softly enough so he couldn't catch a thing. He just knew they were doing that on purpose. This can't be good, he thought grimly.

 

It wasn't his fault he'd overlooked Sesshoumaru's…condition. The cur made him so mad…and it wasn't like he'd succeeded in killing him.

 

It was disturbing to him however, the thought of almost killing a defenseless human. Even if it was his own cur of a brother.

 

Kagome should understand that it wasn't on purpose!

 

He sighed. Kagome should understand a lot of things. Like Kikyou.

 

He wasn't stupid. He knew she…cared for him. But he had a duty to fulfill. It would be cruel to lead Kagome on knowing he couldn't stick around for her.

 

She means a lot to me, but I can't let her get too close, for her own sake, he thought with determination. It would take away from his willingness to keep his promise to the undead miko. It was hard enough as it is.

 

He had to fulfill his duty.

 

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“Men are worms!”

 

“Sango! Your voice!” hissed Kagome.

 

“Oh.” Sango looked around quickly. “I'm sorry. So, what are you going to do?”

 

The school girl flushed. “What do you mean?”

 

“Kagome-chan, you don't really expect Kikyou to keep her word, do you? Even if she does, what if something went wrong? If one part of her plan fails, even if we destroy Naraku…she'll take Inuyasha.” The taijiya looked grim. “And he'll let her.”

 

Kagome looked at her intensely for a moment. She turned away with a sigh before a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Then we'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen.”

 

Sango stared at her for a moment before stretching lightly. Once she had her hands folded in her lap again, she spoke: “Why do I sense that you doubt his feelings, Kagome-chan?”

 

The younger girl was startled. “Doubt his feelings? I don't. We're very close friends.” She took a gulp from the soda can she was holding. “I support him all the way.” She smiled at the taijiya reassuringly.

 

The look Sango was giving her was one of disbelief, and it wiped the smile right off her face. Kagome cleared her throat self-consciously and took another small gulp.

 

“Don't you even listen to him?” the exterminator asked in puzzlement.

 

Kagome looked confused. Of course she listened to him. Sometimes even when she didn't want to. “What do you mean?”

 

“He keeps talking about owing her, paying his debt, his obligation, his duty,” she stressed the last word.

 

Kagome frowned. “Are you saying that's all it is?”

 

Sango shook her head. “No. He does care for Kikyou….but not the way you think. He wants her laid to rest, even if it's at his expense, his life. That's how he is. He seems rough and coarse at times but he's very loyal-”

 

“I know that!”

 

“-he'd sacrifice himself for the people he loves in a heartbeat. He would never say so. He just does.”

 

Kagome was silent, staring sightlessly at the ground. She knew all that. That was why she was so scared for him. His love for Kikyou endangered his life, even his happiness.

 

Maybe she was being selfish, wanting him to live, when it seemed a life without the miko would make him miserable…

 

Sango sighed in exasperation. “He doesn't love her, Kagome-chan.”

 

The younger girl's head snapped up. “What! How could you say that?” she said with a frown. It was quite obvious to her that he did.

 

“He cares for her, but he doesn't love her. Let me put it like this:” -she looked up thoughtfully, a little amused at Kagome's wide-eyed stare. “he would give his life for that miko, true. But if he had to choose which of you he had to give his life for, it would b-”

 

“No!”

 

Sango jumped, her surprise evident. Kagome had stood up abruptly, the nearly empty can rolling at her feet. Her hands covering her ears as if her life depended on it.

 

“Don't tell me that! I don't want to think about it,” she finished in a whisper, hands sliding back down to her sides. Her eyes stared ahead sightlessly as the taijiya looked up at her in shock. “I'm going to freshen up a bit.” Her smile had returned, though not as bright or as warm as it usually was.

 

Sango's mouth opened and closed soundlessly as she watched the young girl depart. Oh, my. It seemed Kagome had thought of that possibility countless times. And it seemed that every time, she ruled herself out.

 

Sango could feel her tears gathering at her friend's obvious pain. She took a deep breath and tried not to glare when she turned to where Inuyasha was. He was standing now, looking worriedly in her direction.

 

Soon enough he was at her side.

 

“What happened?”

 

She didn't rise, content to simply look up at his hard features. “Nothing you would understand,” she said, her voice carrying a note of contempt.

 

The half demon heard it clearly, his mouth becoming a grim line. “Where did she go? Why did you let her go alone?” he demanded snappily. He knew whatever they had been talking about couldn't be good. Now Kagome was upset, and Sango looked like she wanted to run him through. Great.

 

“I didn't,” she said, her tone more friendly. “She just went. I was going to send Kirara after her-”

 

“Whatever,” he interrupted crossly, looking away. “I'll go.”

 

“I don't think-”

 

But he was already off. Sango folded her arms, huffing in annoyance. She didn't think Kagome would want to see him right now…but she could be wrong.

 

And she didn't mean to sound angry with him. She knew it wasn't his fault. Kikyou, Naraku…Kagome. She did fault him, however, for being so insensitive to Kagome's feelings, the way he reacted to Kikyou so openly.

 

“Doesn't he know he's hurting her?” she asked in a hard whisper.

 

“I don't think he does,” came the unexpected reply before the monk sat himself down beside her.

 

“Miroku!” She jumped in surprise. “How long have you been listening?” she asked, glowering at him.

 

He smiled brightly at her, laying his staff next to him gently. “Long enough. Oh, don't look at me like that, Sango-san. How many times have we spied on those two together?”

 

Sango looked away, flushing prettily and folding her arms. “That's different.”

 

He edged closer. “So you say.”

 

Sango stiffened, eyes widening impossibly, face going completely red.

 

Miroku frowned after a few seconds passed. At this point, she would have either slapped him silly, or knocked him out.

 

“San- Gurk?!”

 

She groped him back.

 

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To Be Continued…

 

 

Heheheh.

 

As you can see Amaya's NOT dead. Anyway I made this chapter extra long for all those great -sniffle- wonderful reviews I got -blows nose into humongous handkerchief-

 

Next chap coming soon.

  

I'll be seeing you! Any suggestions, criticism, or any kind of comment, will be appreciated greatly. I mean really! In other words…R&R people! Well…the second R anyway ; )