InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ A Sense Of Timing ( Chapter 23 )

Chapter 23 - A Sense of Timing

 

 

 

Once Kagome had stomped away Katsuro whirled on the boys and started in on his speech. “I know that none of you like the idea of Kagome being with Sesshoumaru but his life is on the line and he deserves one last chance. It should be up to her, not you, how she feels about him. You will not interfere. Neither he nor I will tell her that she is who he desires. I have already explained that doing so would do more damage than good.

 

“She is his soul mate and if she does not mate with him then she will be just as miserable as he has been all this time and he will be dead. Every soul has only one that it is drawn to and if he dies then she will live the rest of her life in less than perfect relationships with males that she was not meant for. She will never find true happiness with anyone else and I know you would want for her to be happy. You will not sabotage his attempts. You will not come between them. To do so would not only hurt him but her as well. Do you understand me?”

 

None of them were happy about it but they certainly didn't want to ruin Kagome's chance at happiness. They knew Katsuro would not lie to them about something so important. He loved Kagome like a daughter. He wouldn't wish her ill. They didn't like the idea of Kagome being Sesshoumaru's soul mate, but if they were meant to be then it was not their place to stand in her way. They each reluctantly nodded their agreement before separating, each male heading to his own room since none of them wanted to face a cranky Kagome. They knew to give her space and time to calm down or they would regret it.

 

The beast had sat patiently as their father spoke, not sure just why Kagome left; though he was sure it had something to do with the hanyou. When they all left he found himself alone with their father and decided that now was the time for him to share. `Tell me of the so called `benefits' of the Syndrome. How could it be possible for her to understand us?'

 

Katsuro sighed before walking into his son's room, making him self comfortable in the leather desk chair. He spoke softly, not wanting the others and especially not Kagome to hear. The elder inu shared his complete knowledge of the Syndrome, both the pros and cons, and by the time he was finished the beast was eager to put some things to the test.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Kagome had plopped her frustrated self on the couch in the living room, determined to distract her self from the annoying riddles and unanswered questions as well as from growling inus. Whatever it was that they were hiding from her was causing some serious tension between the brothers, worse than normal. She opened her Biology textbook and turned to the first of the three chapters she had to have read by class the next morning and tried to bury her self in the words.

 

It wasn't long before her tired body and overwhelmed mind turned against her and she was soon fast asleep stretched out with her book resting on her chest. She didn't hear a thing when Katsuro came down the stairs and looked at her before smiling and leaving the house. She was oblivious to the soft clicking of claws on the hardwood floor of the upstairs hall and the stairs as the beast quietly descended to find his love.

 

Following his nose to the couch he silently rejoiced when he found her fast asleep. He didn't have to wait until that night to give one of the things his father had told him about a try. If a dog could smirk he definitely would have been as he moved closer to his sleeping angel. Taking advantage of her current state, he leaned in and buried his nose in the curve of her throat in her hair, breathing her scent in deeply. Both Sesshoumaru and the beast concentrated then on their goal and pulled back to watch as her eyes began flitting quickly under closed lids. His sweet miko Kagome was dreaming.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Looking around, Kagome was confused for a moment. “How did I get here?” she whispered aloud. Standing beside her were Miroku and Bankotsu, though they both seemed distracted as they didn't answer her softly spoken question. Her eyes scanned the large room seeing people everywhere, but when she saw him suddenly everyone around her seemed to fade away.

 

There, leaning against the wall near the entrance, was Sesshoumaru, and he looked just like he had that day. She felt the same pull as her eyes wandered his form, taking in his masculine perfection. Her hands twitched at her side as she felt the urge to wrap her hands in his hair and trace his demon markings with her tongue. Seeing how his t-shirt clung slightly to the muscles of his chest and abdomen had her aching to peel the blue cotton fabric off him so she could worship every inch of his pale skin that she could find.

 

She watched as his eyes slowly opened and she felt the electricity flowing down her spine to the tips of her fingers and toes, her entire body humming. He was looking right at her, staring into her eyes, and it felt like her very soul was being pulled towards him. Without her permission she found that her feet were carrying her closer to him. Still he stood motionless, only his eyes moving as she did, remaining locked with her own. She didn't stop until she was standing just a few steps in front of him. Still he stared into her eyes and she let out a gasp as a small smile pulled at his lips. He was beautiful before, but with a smile on his face he was breathtaking.

 

“Hello sweet miko,” he said in a deep, sexy voice that made her entire body go up in flames and it felt like she was steadily melting into a puddle at his feet. She opened her mouth to answer but all that came out was a rather embarrassing croaking sound. “It is rather interesting to relive this moment. Even then I felt it and so did you. I am curious, if this Sesshoumaru was capable of not mistreating the hanyou, would you have come to me as you have now? Would you have been mine?” He smirked as her eyes widened in surprise.

 

Finally she was able to find her voice. “I… I don't know. Would you have wanted me?” She stayed still as a statue as his hand reached out and caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly across her lips.

 

“If this Sesshoumaru was not a fool, yes, I would have.” His hand slipped into her hair and he leaned towards her, watching as her eyes fluttered closed before he gently pressed his lips to hers. It was soft and tender and Kagome was sure she could feel the world shift around them. When he released her, pulling back to take in her beauty once again, she opened her eyes and found that the world had in fact shifted around them. Now they stood in his bedroom, not the one she'd dumped taco salad in but his room at his father's home. She'd only ever gotten short glances of the space but now she had the chance to take it all in.

 

She decided rather quickly that she really didn't care what the room looked like, not when his arms slipped around her waist and he moved in for another kiss. This one was more passionate and she moaned softly as she felt one clawed hand bury itself in her hair while the other slipped under the back of her shirt, the deadly tips brushing teasingly along her sensitive skin and making her shiver against him. She allowed her own hands to wander, one moving to let his perfect silver strands slip between her fingers while the other she placed on his chest, sliding slowly as she traced the firm and well defined muscles.

 

He broke the kiss, leaving her panting in its wake as his lips swept across her cheek and down her throat. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured into her ear before taking the lobe carefully between his razor sharp teeth and giving a gentle tug. He smirked as she moaned softly for him, only for him. He took a step back from her and his smirk grew at her little whimper of disappointment. His hands found the bottom of her shirt and he lifted it slowly, inch by inch as he took in the sight of more and more of her milky white skin.

 

She didn't know what was going on but she didn't much care either. She knew that she had to be dreaming so she figured she might as well enjoy it. She would never get this lucky while she was awake. She lifted her arms, allowing him to pull her shirt off entirely. She looked off to the side in embarrassment and after what had to be a whole minute of silence her arms moved to cover her chest, fearing that he didn't find her attractive.

 

When she moved to cover herself he realized he had been staring. His hands wrapped loosely around her wrists and he used them to pull her body firmly against his own. “Do not hide yourself, Kagome. You are perfect,” Sesshoumaru whispered, leaning down to touch his forehead to hers. “This Sesshoumaru did not mean to stare but I was captivated by your beauty.”

 

His head snapped back in shock when he heard her snort. “Captivated by my beauty my ass! You think maybe you could stop trying to sound like a sixteenth century poet and fucking kiss me?”

 

He smirked at her. “Eager are we? Your wish is my command.” He leaned in again and caught her lips in a heated kiss while allowing his hands to roam her body. They ran down along her sides, crossed the soft but flat plains of her stomach, trailed along her spine, and finally cupped her silk covered breasts. She let out a low breathy sound of pleasure, encouraging him to continue.

 

He chuckled at her surprise when her bra slid down her arms, especially since it clasped in the front and he hadn't gone near the complicated little system of hooks. “This Sesshoumaru is rather eager as well.” He felt her whole body tense, suddenly nervous, and he realized he needed to reassure her. “We will do nothing that you are not ready for.”

 

She could hear the honesty and caring in his voice and found herself confused. “Since when are you concerned about anyone other than yourself?” she asked, not meaning it as an accusation so much as an observation. She knew she'd touched a sensitive spot when his movements ceased. “Did I tell you to stop?” she said playfully. “It's my dream after all. If I want you to be the perfect gentlemen then I guess you will be.”

 

His only reply was a low “Hn,” but she didn't have time to be irritated by his monosyllabic answer. She was too busy moaning as she felt his lips wrap around her right nipple while her left was being gently teased by the fingers of his right hand. It was amazing the way the pleasure spread through her entire body as his tongue flicked over the sensitive peak. She wanted it to go on forever. It was something she'd always imagined but never expected to experience and this dream… it had to be the most realistic dream she'd ever had.

 

She whimpered when he pulled away but only moaned for him again as his mouth latched on to the left pink and pebbled peak. “Sesshoumaru,” she whispered. “Don't stop.”

 

He looked up into her eyes, sucking her nipple a little harder before releasing it with a pop. “I wouldn't dream of it.”

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Inuyasha's ears twitched on top of his head and he frowned, trying to figure out what the small sound he'd just heard was. It seemed familiar but different all the same. He opened his door and peered out, his eyes meeting with Shippo who was doing the same. Deciding that it warranted investigation, Inuyasha knocked on Miroku's door while Shippo knocked on Bankotsu's. When the two opened their doors they we're signaled to be quiet and follow. All four males crept slowly down the stairs as silently as possible. This time when the sound happened they all heard it and as realization dawned in their minds they began to move faster, intent on finding out why their Kagome was making such a sound.

 

When they reached the living room they were all confused, not seeing her stretched out on the couch at first. “Sesshoumaru, don't stop,” she whispered with a whimper of pleasure. All four males almost ran around the couch, skidding to a stop to see Kagome asleep and obviously dreaming while Sesshoumaru's beast had his snout buried in the curve of her neck and her hair.

 

If the image and her words weren't enough, the scent of her arousal hit Inuyasha and Shippo hard. “What the fuck?!” Inuyasha yelled, causing Kagome to wake with a start, sitting straight up and knocking her book to the floor where it landed on the large dog's paw, causing it to let out a yelp of pain.

 

Kagome's hand clutched her chest over her heart as she tried to slow her breathing. “What the fuck was that about? You scared the shit out of me!! And you made me drop my book on Sesshoumaru!” She looked around for a moment before she continued. “Wait… what was he doing right here anyway?”

 

The beast had a smug look on its face, or at least as smug a look as a dog could manage. He breathed in deeply, both the beast and Sesshoumaru savoring the sweet scent of her arousal. The knowledge that she was aroused for them only made it better.

 

“That's what the fuck I wanna know! And why do you smell like that wench?”

 

“Smell like what?” she asked in confusion.

 

“You're aroused! Why the fuck are you aroused? And why did we hear you say his name in your sleep?”

 

Kagome flushed a brilliant red in an instant as she looked from her friends to Sesshoumaru's beast and back.

 

“Kaggie, what were you dreaming?” Bankotsu asked in a worried tone.

 

“I… I was… it was… do you remember freshman orientation?” Miroku and Bankotsu nodded. “It started like that… only it ended differently.”

 

Both Inuyasha and Shippo watched as understanding dawned in their two friends. “What happened at freshman orientation?” Shippo asked curiously.

 

Kagome blushed an even darker red and looked away, her hand moving on its own to rest on the large inu beside her. The beast almost purred as it felt her touch, knowing that even though she hadn't done it on purpose she unconsciously found comfort in his presence.

 

Seeing that she wasn't going to answer Bankotsu did it for her. “When we were in line to get our schedules and stuff… Kagome's attention was captured by someone. But then he opened his mouth and made himself look like a huge asshole.”

 

“What do you mean?” Inuyasha asked impatiently.

 

“What he was trying to say was that Kagome was staring at your brother and she obviously liked what she saw; at least until you walked up to him and he insulted you. That was the first time Kags laid eyes on either of you.”

 

“You mean you really were drawn to him?” the hanyou asked incredulously.

 

Kagome refused to look at anyone as her fingers burrowed deeper into the thick silvery white fur. “Yeah, I suppose, but it doesn't matter. It was stupid. And once I heard him talk to you like that… I decided it didn't matter how cute he was, that he was a jerk.”

 

“But you felt drawn to him?” he asked again, praying that she would deny it, that it wasn't true, that she wasn't really his brother's soul mate, that it was all a mistake.

 

“Yeah, I did. Why?” No one answered and the miko frowned. “Why?” she asked louder.

 

They all looked at Sesshoumaru's beast as it whined and woofed. `The hanyou wishes that you were not made for this Sesshoumaru. But now both he and we know it is true. You are our soul mate. You are ours.'

 

Shippo snorted and everyone turned to him in surprise. “Did you understand that?” Kagome asked softly.

 

“Some of it. Inu and kitsune languages have some similarities.”

 

“Well? What did he say?” she demanded. She wanted to know what the hell was going on! She'd never had a dream anywhere near as real as the one they'd woken her from, and she found herself wishing it hadn't been a dream at all, a feeling that frightened her. She couldn't be attracted to him still! She'd been fighting it for four years, knowing that he'd never want her, that she'd just be making a fool of herself. She had no idea why she had so freely admitted her attraction to her friends, the ones she'd been hiding it from all this time, and in front of him no less! She didn't know if the real Sesshoumaru could hear her or not but either way she was mortified by the realization that she had just announced that she had been drawn to him while in his presence!

 

Shippo glanced nervously from face to face, not sure if he should tell her or not. “I… well… he… he said that Inuyasha didn't want for you to be drawn to him.”

 

“Why? There was more, wasn't there?”

 

“I… I can't Kags. I'm sorry. I can't.”

 

She turned in frustration and looked at the beast, just now realizing that she had her hand buried in his fur. “Why do you keep saying things that no one wants me to know? What the fuck is going on around here?” she asked everyone and no one all at once. She stilled and found her anger and frustration dissipating as the large inu growled softly, the sound almost like a purr, and nuzzled against her. Her gray blue eyes met his glowing red ones and for a moment there was no one else in the room with them. “What is going on? What are you trying to tell me?”

 

`Say it! Say you wish you could understand me! Kagome, please! Say it!'

 

Shippo let out a few growls and whines of his own. `If she was meant to understand you she would be inu. Wishing to understand you will change nothing.'

 

`You speak of things you do not know, kitsune.'

 

“If you guys are going to growl at each other and leave me in the dark then I'm leaving. I need to finish my reading before tomorrow morning anyway.” Kagome huffed before grabbing her book and stomping up the stairs, leaving two demons, two hanyou (if you count Bankotsu, which she did), and one human looking on in surprise.

 

“She's a bit cranky today, isn't she,” Miroku asked.

 

“I heard that!” she yelled from the top of the stairs, and everyone turned away quickly, Miroku whistling like she didn't sound ready to kill him at all.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

They were idiots, he decided. Absolute morons. It was rather funny that she was mad at them because she couldn't understand him. She wasn't angry at him, she just seemed concerned, worried even. She cared, that was all that mattered. If only she would say the words, then he wouldn't separated from her by the language barrier. He would find a way to make her say it. Deciding since they were still just standing around like fools he would go find his sweet Kagome, Sesshoumaru's beast stood up and began to make his way past the near statues. It was entertaining how they feared her temper. She was definitely feisty.

 

Inuyasha leapt in between the demon and the stairs. “Oh no you don't! There's some things we need to get straight!” Inuyasha was more upset than anyone by the whole Kagome thing. She was the first person to accept him. She was the one that taught him to accept himself. How could she be meant for the one single person, well, demon that made his life a living hell every chance he got? What would happen if she mated Sesshoumaru? Would she be on his side then? Would she dump them all for her new mate? Would things still be the same or would everything that he'd come to rely on crumble around them. He couldn't take it. It was too much, too scary. He had to find some way to stop it.

 

“Inuyasha?” Miroku asked softly, worried about his friend who looked more on edge than he ever had, even before they'd become friends.

 

Inuyasha ignored the gentle inquiry, fully focused on the enemy in this battle for Kagome's time and attentions. “I don't care whether she's your soul mate or not. You have a snowball's chance in hell of getting Kagome! You've been an ass to her for four years. What makes you think she'd ever fall for you?”

 

“Inuyasha,” Bank said a little louder. If Inuyasha got any louder Kagome would hear him!

 

“You might as well just lie down and die right now. If you hadn't been such a prick yesterday you'd have a shot. She thought there was more to you, even wanted to be your friend and you threw it back in her face. If you love her like Pops thinks, then why act like that? I think you're a fucking idiot!”

 

The fur was standing up on the beast's back and his fangs were bared at the hanyou. `Will you stand in my way?' he snarled.

 

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Bankotsu turned to look at Shippo who sighed. “This is gonna get old fast. He said `will you stand in my way?'.

 

Inuyasha laughed. “I don't need to. You fucked yourself. I won't need to lift a finger. You need to just pick someone else.”

 

`This Sesshoumaru desires no other.' Shippo translated once more.

 

“Well that's just too fucking bad. You'll never have her. You're not good enough for her.”

 

Inside, Sesshoumaru and his beast silently agreed with the hanyou. They didn't deserve her, not even close, but they loved her and hopefully that would be enough.

 

An odd look came over Inuyasha's face before he smirked darkly. “So, do you need to go outside, boy?” he asked as if talking to the family pet. “Maybe we should buy you a big bag of kibble.”

 

“Inuyasha?” Shippo asked this time. “What the hell? You're pissing him off.”

 

Inuyasha snorted. “What's he gonna do? Bite me?” He waved a hand like he was brushing the thought away before turning back to the very angry demon. “If you're a good boy maybe you can have a biscuit! Oh, when you do go outside, make sure to stay in the yard, at least until we get you a collar and tags. Wouldn't want you to get lost or caught by animal control now, would we?” He opened his mouth to continue but when the giant dog collided with his chest the wind was knocked out of him.

 

Sesshoumaru sank his fangs into Inuyasha's arm and Inuyasha yelled in pain. “Get off me, you fucker!” In seconds, Shippo, Miroku, and Bankotsu were trying to drag the demon off of his brother and trying and failing to pry his jaws open.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Kagome could hear yelling downstairs but ignored it. They were fighting again. She wished they would just knock it off. It was getting really annoying. Her attention was captured, however, when she heard crashing and thumping, as well as all four of her friends yelling, barely audible over the vicious snarls. She jumped off Bankotsu's bed and ran down the stairs.

 

She turned the corner just in time to see Bank, Miroku, and Shippo all fall backwards as they finally successfully freed Inuyasha from the demon's jaws. Inuyasha looked dazed, standing and swaying precariously. Sesshoumaru collided with him again, this time knocking him flat on his back and going for the throat. Inuyasha was fighting to keep the deadly fangs from reaching him and Kagome screamed.

 

“Sesshoumaru?! What the fuck! Get Off him!” When he didn't even register her presence she rushed forward and gave him a rough shove with charged hands, causing him to yelp in pain. He was paralyzed for a moment, just enough time for the guys to drag Inuyasha off the floor. Kagome stood between the brothers, looking at the elder demon with something like hatred in her eyes, causing the constant pain in his chest to worsen. “I thought you were more than just a vicious, mindless animal! You were really trying to kill him!”

 

`The hanyou provoked this Sesshoumaru,' he tried to explain. He looked at Shippo who shook his head before answering in barks and growls of his own.

 

“I'm not going to try and stand in your way, but I'm not going to help you either.” Sesshoumaru snarled at the kitsune before turning back to Kagome, his head down and a pitiful whimper escaping him.

 

Kagome was too busy to notice anything while she inspected Inuyasha's arm. The punctures were deep and there were long flaps of skin hanging from where the beast's fangs tore through while they tried to get him to let go. Blood was running freely from both sides of his arm and Kagome was doing her best to slow it with a dish towel Miroku had grabbed from the kitchen.

 

Sesshoumaru lowered his front end and crawled closer to her, whimpering his apologies again. He wasn't really sorry, just sorry she saw it but not why he'd attacked in the first place. And of course none of them would tell her the truth. Now she hated him even more, all because the hanyou couldn't accept that she was meant to be his.

 

This time she noticed him and turned to give him a look that made him whimper in pain as his chest tightened. “Just stay away. You've done enough damage already.” Her tone was so cold that she sounded like him instead of her usual loving self. He whimpered again in pain and she simply looked away. He continued to look at her and noticed when Inuyasha gave him a rather triumphant smirk over her shoulder. He growled again and she turned to look at him once more. “I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You always attack him for no real reason. Why should now be any different?”

 

The miko turned back to her patient, gently aligning the hanging skin before healing his wounds. Inuyasha just sat back and reveled in her attention and soothing aura. Sure, it hurt, but it was more than worth it. She would never give Sesshoumaru another chance now, not after witnessing the perfect scene. She'd come down the stairs just in time.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Author's Note:

 

This chapter was posted early as a thanks to all of you who showed an awesome amount if support. In less than 24 hours I got 140 reviews on Ch 22 and there's been quite a bit more since I counted too. I want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed. It was really wonderful, especially hearing from so many of you who'd never reviewed before.

 

Now, ch 24 I haven't written yet, but I have plans for it. I know a lot of you are looking forward to the Shippo chapters and yes, his story is going to be told just like everyone else's. I already know all the details, but I've been super sucked into writing the present chapters the last week or so.

 

And if I'd know just how many of you loved vampires, well hell, I would have done the Halloween chapter a long time ago. Thanks to Jenna for helping me with choosing the event and everything else too! I couldn't write like I do without her.

 

The Feudal Association's awards are out, so if you want to see the two The Syndrome won, either check my live journal or see all the banners and awards I've received in my pretty little slideshow here:

 

http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh37/SunsetMiko/SunsetMik o/?albumview=slideshow

 

If the link isn't there (some sites block them) then check my profile for my LiveJournal. You can see the slideshow there too.