InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secrets of the Shinju (Part I): Sesshoumaru's Stolen Memories ❯ A Small Success ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Eight

A Small Success

Sesshoumaru again insisted that they practice before they left. He demonstrated to her his newfound ability to fly. However, he was speaking the truth when he said he could not stay in the air long. After only minutes he had to return to the ground. He had not yet learned how to focus his own powers, though it was obvious that he would not give in until he did. Kagome took note to his suddenly positive outlook.

He then turned to her and said she needed to practice. He took out the knife again, and saw the look on her face. "We can save healing for tonight, if you wish. Instead we can again attempt a spirit barrier." He noticed some relief in her eyes as he put the knife away. He approached her and began to speak to her about focusing her energy. "Focus only on your own aura. Allow your powers to form around you and protect you like they desire." Again he walked away from her and she began to concentrate. Again she felt his hand upon her. She opened her eyes and saw a look of disappointment on his face. "Again" is all he said and walked away from her. This time she didn't think about him. She focused on the air around her. Suddenly the smells of the forest became much more potent. She could feel an electricity in the air around her. After a few moments she opened her eyes and saw him standing a few feet from her with a small smile on his face. She noticed the atmosphere around her had slightly changed, there was a slight blue haze around her. Kagome realized that she had put up a barrier. Her concentration broke and it disappeared. He approached her and told her she had done well though her barrier was very weak, it had kept him out.

Sesshoumaru decided it was enough training for her, as he didn't want her to become exhausted again. "We will work on your healing tonight when we stop." The thought of watching him cut himself again, made her nauseous. The two traveled all morning and into the afternoon. They came upon a beautiful lake that Kagome just couldn't ignore. The water was the clearest she had ever seen. "Please, may we stop and rest here? I would love to bathe while we are here." He turned to her and nodded his head. He remembered that this human would need to rest more than he, if she were to stay in good health. "Very well, while you bathe I will again practice." He left her at the lake with Kilala and she quickly gathered her soap and shampoo then got into the water. It was surprisingly warm for such a clear lake.

After she was done she sought him out. He held his Tenseiga in his right hand. She walked to him and inquired as to what he was doing. "I am just studying this unusual sword. I can feel power in it. It is so sharp; I find it hard to believe that it doesn't cut." She looked at him and then told him to strike her with it. He looked at her for a moment then replied "I will not use this sword on you." She realized that he didn't believe her about the Tenseiga's powers. She again told him to use the Tenseiga on her. "It will not harm me." She watched him as he contemplated the sword and again refused to use it on her. Without thinking about her actions, she lunged forward and slapped him. Instinctively, he brought the sword around and defended himself with it. He stood there in shock for a moment, looking at her. "You were not cut." She nodded and again told him that the Tenseiga could only be used to heal, not harm. He stared her down for another moment and said "You struck me." A smile played on her lips, "It's the only way I knew to get you to use the sword." He continued to stare at her in disbelief. "In the future, we do not need to resort to violence for such trivial matters."

The two gathered their things and again set out walking, Kilala closely behind them. Suddenly he began talking to her about the dream he had the night before. He had a smile on his face as he spoke of his best friend and mother. Kagome was again bothered by the personality change in him. This just isn't Sesshoumaru. Then a thought crossed her mind. Maybe this is what he should have been like. He had been reliving his childhood in his dreams. At some point he was just a carefree little boy. She looked up at him and began to wonder what had caused him to become the demon that she knew.

That day he was unusually talkative. He began asking her questions about herself and she did her best to answer without giving him too much information. She told him about her grandfather, mother and brother. He listened very attentively to her as she spoke. He then asked her about his own brother and the humans that they traveled with. She did her best to describe InuYasha and the others to him. She could tell that even now, he didn't care much for InuYasha. She began to wonder what sort of memories of InuYasha he would have. He was silent for a few moments then spoke to her again, "You are not my brother's mate, why is it you remain with him?" Kagome blushed and told him that she had broken something very important and they had to get it back. He seemed curious about this, but did not pursue it at the moment. He decided they would stop for the night and again he went out to find food. He returned very shortly with more meat he had cleaned. She cooked it and again they both ate.

After they had both finished he cleaned the knife and again cut his arm. He sat close to her and again told her to concentrate. This night it was much easier to use her healing powers as she now understood how to focus them. It took her a couple of minutes but she was successful on the first try. "You did very well, Kagome. You will have this power mastered very soon." He stood and moved to where he would sleep and she called Kilala to her. Once again he fell into pleasant dreams of his youth, while Kagome had a restless night. It was as though someone wanted to get into her mind and couldn't.