InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ There’s a Dog That Lives Inside You, Resting Underneath Your Skin ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15 - There's a Dog That Lives Inside You, Resting Underneath Your Skin

 

 

Inuyasha came up behind Kagome slowly, his arms slipping around her waist and his head resting on her right shoulder. “He is just as cruel as he acts, Kagome. There isn't a nice guy hiding somewhere inside him.”

 

She sighed and leaned back against him. “I was told almost that exact thing about you, but they were wrong about you then and you're wrong now.”

 

The inu hanyou made a face, looking like he was considering her words. “I really don't think so. He's always been an ass. But if there is anyone who can change him, it would be you,” he said before pressing a peck to her cheek and pulling away, moving to sit on the island.

 

Kagome didn't turn around, keeping her attention focused on her task as she spoke. “There's something in his eyes. It felt like he was silently begging me not to agree with you guys. There's pain in them, the same pain that you had, Inuyasha, and Bank too. I don't know why he acts the way he does but I know there's more to him.”

 

 

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By the time he'd made it to his room he'd gone from confused to angry. How dare she? How dare she say she pitied him? How dare she even assume to understand him? How dare she try to embarrass him in front of her friends, try to make him look weak? How dare she to think to tell him how he would feel in the future, how he feels now? `She has no idea, no idea how this Sesshoumaru feels. She has no comprehension as to why I behave as I do. She pities me? This Sesshoumaru needs no one's pity. How can she even begin to know my feelings? She thinks she can understand me through my eyes alone? She pities me?'

 

That was what was getting to him the most. Her words, `I feel sorry for you,' were echoing in his mind. He didn't even register the pain or the fact that it had lessened as she spoke with something like compassion in her voice. He didn't realize that she was giving him a chance to open up to her, a chance to show her more of himself which was what he'd been hoping for. All he could think of was the pity. His ego would not allow him to be pitied by a weak mortal. It was unacceptable. He lay on his back in the middle of his bed absolutely fuming, wishing he'd told her off, told her she was wrong, told her he had no need of her pity.

 

`This Sesshoumaru is not lonely. The miko has no idea what she's talking about. I have no friends because I choose to have none. I need no friends. If this Sesshoumaru wished it, people would line up to associate with me, to call me friend.'

 

 

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It hadn't taken Kagome long to finish her signature dinner, taco salads. She passed out the bowls and everyone found places to sit around the kitchen. The table was small, only four chairs, so Kagome sat on the island, loving how her feet dangled off the side, and Inuyasha leaned against the counter, not far from the last bowl she'd made that no one was eating.

 

“See, Kags? He won't even come eat when you invite him. He thinks he's too good for us, too good to eat with us. Asshole,” Inuyasha said, trying to convince her to give up on Sesshoumaru. It unnerved him that she was showing such compassion to someone who most definitely didn't deserve it. And he'd been watching Sesshoumaru closely, remembering what his father said. Something was definitely off with the demon. Never before would he have stood there and allowed anyone to talk to him the way he, Bankotsu, and even Kagome had.

 

Add to that the fact that the nearly emotionless taiyoukai had popped a boner in front of everyone when he'd never showed any interest in dating or girls for as long as he could remember. He didn't really think it was because of Jak. He didn't think his half-brother was gay, he just enjoyed screwing with him, but if it wasn't that then what had caused it? The only girl around was Kagome and his brother couldn't possibly have been turned on by her. Sesshoumaru would never be interested in a human, not with the way he spoke about humans on the whole and how disgusted he was with hanyou. So what the hell had caused his brother to be so obviously aroused?

 

“Maybe he thinks that since you guys made it obvious you don't want him around that I didn't mean it or something,” Kagome said, dropping from the counter. She grabbed the bowl she'd made for the missing demon and some chopsticks before disappearing out the door. No one tried to stop her, knowing she was going to do what she wanted either way.

 

Deciding he needed some more cheese, Inuyasha grabbed his bowl and walked around the island to the other side where Kagome'd left the remaining toppings. His brows furrowed as he saw reddish brown dry streaks on the counter. It looked like dried blood, but he didn't remember anyone wiping it up while he was healing her finger, and if someone had set out to clean up the blood they certainly wouldn't have left such an obvious streak. After adding cheese he decided since he was already up… Opening the bottle of taco sauce and pouring some on his food he noticed that he dripped and went to wipe it up with his fingers.

 

While his taco sauce seasoned digits were in his mouth his eyes were drawn to the counter as something struck him. Where he'd just wiped up the red sauce with his fingers there was a streak that looked almost identical to the dried blood, but that meant that… Sesshoumaru… had tasted Kagome's blood. He wanted to growl as he realized that had to be it. The taste of her blood was amazing and he had a hard time not being aroused by it himself, but for Sesshoumaru to react so strongly to it, for him to want to taste it to begin with, meant something that he didn't want to believe.

 

 

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“You, you think you're such a badass, you think you're such a roughneck, but I saw you outside eatin' truffles with your moms on the patio. I think it's really sad though…” Kagome sang softly on her way up the stairs. “You, you think you're still a badass, you think you're still a roughneck, well let's take this outside…”

 

Sesshoumaru heard a soft knock on his door and snapped out an angry sounding, “What?”

 

Kagome opened the door slowly. “Sesshoumaru?” she said as she stepped inside. “You didn't come downstairs for dinner so I brought you a bowl.”

 

Sesshoumaru didn't say anything at first as he heard her set the bowl and chopsticks on his desk. He was still too angry. He hated pity! “This Sesshoumaru does not need your pity or your charity,” he said in a condescending tone.

 

Kagome looked at him in shock for a moment as his words settled in. She picked up the bowl she'd brought and looked at him. “Fine then,” she snapped at him before slowly turning the bowl upside down, dumping the contents over as much of the floor as she could without moving her feet. When it was empty she tossed it on the foot of the bed carelessly, bouncing it off his foot. “I guess Inuyasha was right. You are just an asshole.” The longer she spoke the louder she got. She couldn't believe how rude he was being! She brought him fucking dinner and he acted like this?

 

Sesshoumaru noticed the pain in his chest growing as her anger flared but tried to ignore it.

 

“Offering you dinner is not charity you arrogant fuck! I offered because I cooked it for everyone. It was a thank you for letting me stay here last night and for the next few days. And the pity? I can't help but pity you. But it's your own fault you're alone and lonely, your choice.”

 

“This Sesshoumaru needs no one.”

 

“Sure you don't. Keep telling yourself that. Oh, and about earlier, I changed my mind. Don't talk to me. I don't want your negativity and hate to poison me.” She was yelling now, her face turning red. She wanted to slap him! She couldn't believe the attitude. And she thought that there was something good in him? Ha!

 

The longer she yelled the more obvious it was that she hated him; that he'd screwed things up so badly there was no chance of repair.

 

“I guess I was wrong. Maybe you are nothing but black inside. Do you even have a heart? Or does a powerful being like you have no need for one?”

 

As he could feel and hear her anger and hatred, the pain grew worse and worse. Soon he was clutching at his chest with his claws, not noticing as he tore through his shirt.

 

“What's wrong now? Your heart trying to claw its way out before it shrivels and dies in such a hostile environment?”

 

Her tone was dark and her eyes were flashing bright blue like lighting was striking behind them. He'd never seen her look like that before, never seen her look so absolutely frightening. He didn't even know she could get so angry and never expected her to show it so openly. His eyes grew wide as he realized he couldn't breathe. He looked at her with shock and pain shown clearly across his face.

 

“Don't even look at me like that,” she said, not noticing or caring that it was true pain showing in his eyes, pain and panic. “…like I hurt your precious feelings. You don't have feelings to hurt,” she yelled before walking out and slamming his door behind her.

 

 

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Everyone downstairs could hear her yelling, each smiling, enjoying the thought of the stuck up prick incurring her wrath. “Never shoulda pissed her off,” Inuyasha said with a laugh.

 

“I wonder what he said,” Shippo added.

 

When the front door slammed a minute or so after his bedroom door everyone jumped up. It was dark out, and cold, and Kagome couldn't be out there alone. When they reached the door and Bankotsu opened it everyone let out a sigh of relief. She was sitting on the single step in front of the door. “I got it,” Bank said, everyone else taking the hint and walking back towards the kitchen. Bankotsu stepped outside and closed the door softly behind him. “Kagome? Are you alright?”

 

She laughed. “I should have known better. I've never seen him act any other way in over four years. Why did I think he was something more?”

 

He settled next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Because you like to think that there's good inside everyone. What did he say?”

 

“This Sesshoumaru doesn't need your pity or charity,” she said while mocking the taiyoukai's tone. “And that he `needs no one'. I hope he has fun cleaning the taco sauce out of his carpet.”

 

Bank snorted and looked at her in shock. “Why is there taco sauce on his carpet?”

 

Kagome smirked evilly. “Cuz I dumped the whole bowl all over his floor. If he didn't need my charity then he didn't need my food either.”

 

“That's my girl,” he said with a smile. “But can we go inside? It's cold out here.”

 

“Fine, but I'm just gonna go lay down. I feel like crap. You know how I hate having to yell. Being angry makes me feel sick.”

 

“Alright girlie, let's go then.” He stood, pulling her up after him and they went inside. Once the door was closed behind them Kagome found herself wrapped around Bankotsu as he lifted her from the ground, her arms and legs moving on their own, and started up the stairs. He waited as she took off her jeans and then her top, which was really his to begin with, before he took off his t-shirt and tossed it at her. She smiled as she pulled it over her head before taking her bra off under the giant shirt. She scooted into the bed, pressing herself against the wall and sighing. “Go to sleep. I'll be up later.”

 

 

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He'd never felt pain like this before. He'd never had trouble breathing like this. For a few minutes Sesshoumaru was sure he was going to die right then and there. Eventually he was able to draw in full breaths but the pain didn't fade away. It was like she'd stabbed him in the heart with every single word and he knew it was his fault. She really had been inviting him for dinner and he'd been nothing but rude. He sat up, the bowl next to his foot slipping off the bed but thankfully not shattering because of the high plush carpeting. Glancing at his floor he almost laughed. Well, now he knew not to upset her again, but then she'd told him never to speak to her again so he wouldn't likely have the chance anyway. With that memory his chest clenched and a searing pain began to burn behind his eyes.

 

The phone rang then and he snatched it up instantly, wanting only to end the shrill sound. “What?” he snapped into the receiver.

 

“Sesshoumaru? You know, it's not nice to hang up on your father.”

 

He let out a sigh. Maybe now he could get the old fool to tell him what was happening! “This Sesshoumaru did not hang up on you father. I passed out. I didn't wake up until almost two hours later. The pain has worsened and I was unable to breathe properly for nearly ten minutes. Whatever this is, it will not wait for your explanation. It is going to kill me. What is it?”

 

Katsuro sighed. “Who is it, Sesshoumaru?”

 

“Who is what?”

 

“Who is the girl you're dreaming about? I am correct in the assumption that it's a girl, right?”

 

“Yes, it is a girl, but how does her identity matter? Tell me what you know!” Sesshoumaru snarled into the phone, wishing he could reach through it and shake his father until he finally gave up the answers he needed. This was not the time for games!

 

“Who is she?”

 

“You will tell me what is happening and then perhaps I will tell you who.”

 

“Sesshoumaru now isn't the time to be making demands. I will be visiting tomorrow with my contractor. They boys want to put a bathroom in for Kagome so she…” Katsuro paused when he heard a groan of pain. “Sesshoumaru? I'll be there tomorrow and I'll explain as much as I can. This isn't common, Sesshoumaru. It's completely the opposite. It's so rare that not everyone in the demon medical field even believe that it exists. Our family, however, has a long history of it. I had it too.”

 

Sesshoumaru allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. So whatever it was, it wasn't deadly. “When will it end?”

 

“End? My son, I don't think you understand. It will continue until it is resolved or until it kills you, whichever comes first.”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. “What do you mean until it kills me? How is it resolved? Tell me and this Sesshoumaru will do so.”

 

“It's not that easy, Sesshoumaru. You must reconcile yourself with your beast. You must follow where it leads you. Only she can heal you. Only she can save your life.”

 

“Only she…?”

 

“Only the girl from your dreams, the one who can ease the pain or make it unfathomable with nothing but a glance. Tell me, this is very important Sesshoumaru, when did the dreams start? How long has this been happening?”

 

Sesshoumaru was lost in his thoughts for a moment. `Only Kagome can heal me? Only Kagome can save my life?' He was ripped from his contemplation by his father insisting he tell him how long. “The dreams began shortly after the beginning of my sophomore year.”

 

“Oh thank Kami. It's only been a few months. I was afraid it would have been longer than that.”

 

“Why?” Sesshoumaru asked warily.

 

“The longer it lasts the worse it will get. No one has ever survived past five years and only the strongest made it that far.”

 

“Father, I did not mean my sophomore year of college. I meant my sophomore year of high school.” There was nothing but silence on the line. Finally Sesshoumaru couldn't handle the quiet. “What does it mean? It has been over four years. Do you mean to say that this Sesshoumaru will die within the year?”

 

His voice was just a whisper when he finally answered. “No one has survived past five years. Why? Why didn't you ask me sooner? Why did you wait so long? You had to have noticed the other symptoms. This is why you never dated, isn't it? Why didn't you tell me the truth when I asked, Sesshoumaru?”

 

Sesshoumaru didn't know what to say. He'd been too embarrassed to go to his father about his inability to be aroused by anyone but her. He couldn't bring himself to talk about the erotic dreams. His pride had kept him quiet until the pain was unbearable and now he was going to die.

 

“Sesshoumaru, please tell me she is someone you are at least friends with. Please tell me you haven't treated her like you treat everyone else. Tell me!”

 

“I cannot. She is not pleased with this Sesshoumaru. I believe she dislikes me a great deal. How is the female significant? I do not understand. Why must you speak in riddles? How must I reconcile myself with my beast? Where is he going to lead? And what does it have to do with her?”

 

“Sesshoumaru, my son, you have very little time to figure it out. I cannot tell you everything. There are things you must discover on your own. She is the key, the focus. You must become one with your beast. The very fact that you are suffering this indicates that you have attempted to lock him away, deny him his freedom and ignore him. Sesshoumaru, I told you years ago that it was unwise to try to separate yourself from your more animalistic and instinctive side. And now you have it.”

 

“But what is it?” he snarled in frustration.

 

“The Syndrome,” his father whispered. “You have the Syndrome.”

 

 

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Inuyasha looked down at the phone in his hand, unsure what he'd just heard. When the phone rang he knew it would be his father calling to tell them what time to expect him and the contractor, but when he picked it up Sesshoumaru was talking. Always too nosey for his own good, Inuyasha had stayed silent, listening with interest to their conversation. So there was something wrong with Sesshoumaru? Something that had to do with his beast and dreams and pain and a girl. And apparently it was a bad thing that the girl didn't like Sesshoumaru. And it was why he hadn't dated all this time? None of it made sense. He didn't like his brother but he didn't want him to die either. The hanyou found him self wondering if there was some way he could help but he wasn't supposed to know. Maybe he could ask their father about it.

 

 

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“So the first step is to reconcile with my beast. How do I do so?”

 

“After so long, Sesshoumaru, I'm not sure. But it will be dangerous to her now. He's waited so long that you may lose all control to him. He could hurt her.”

 

“Why would he hurt her? I don't understand! There has to be more information somewhere. There has to be an old book or scroll that explains it. There has to be something!”

 

“Sesshoumaru, you have to calm yourself and do as I say. Tell your brother that I will arrive around noon tomorrow. Then ask Miroku to place sutras around your windows, on your walls, and over your door, locking you inside. You must do so to protect her because if she is injured or killed you will die. Then I want you to meditate. Do you remember how I taught you to connect with your beast? That is what you must do. You must allow him the chance to communicate with you, to make you aware of what it is he wishes. I cannot tell you what he wants, though I have an idea. You must allow him to tell you and then you must do so, no matter what it takes you must follow where he leads you.”

 

“Are the sutras really necessary?” Sesshoumaru asked, frustrated. He really didn't want to go down there and talk to them, let alone ask for help. “This Sesshoumaru has extraordinary control. My beast has never gained complete control.”

 

“Which is what got you into this mess to begin with! You will do as I say Sesshoumaru, because if you do not you may find that you've done something horrible, something that can never be taken back. He has been waiting for over four years for you to listen. He may no longer be satisfied by simply telling you. He may wish to take matters into his own hands. If you refuse to do as I say, I will come over there right now and have it done myself. I will not allow you to put a woman's life at risk because you are a stubborn, arrogant dog!”

 

Sesshoumaru didn't know what to say. His father had never yelled at him, never once in his entire life. Lectured, sure, but never yelled. Apparently this was as serious as he made it sound. And he'd been hoping his father had merely been exaggerating.

 

“Tell me you are going to do as I say, Sesshoumaru! You're not too big to put over my knee young man!”

 

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and sighed but replied. “I will do as you said, father. I will ask the monk to contain me in my room with sutras and I will meditate and communicate with my beast. When shall I tell them to remove the sutras?”

 

“You won't. I will determine whether it is safe to do so when I arrive.”

 

“Yes father.”

 

“Now go do it Sesshoumaru. I will see you tomorrow and hopefully by then you will know what you must do.”

 

With another `yes father' and then some forced promising and word giving they finally hung up, Sesshoumaru just laying there and looking at the ceiling for a while. His stomach rumbled and he found himself regretting rejecting the food Kagome'd brought him. It smelled good and he was hungry.