InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter Fifteen ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter Fifteen

 

 

“It is an outrage, Sesshomaru-sama!”

 

Hisuni stalked back and forth in front of his lord's desk, his long elaborate robe billowing behind him for dramatic effect. The clanlord was in a fury, a state of righteous indignation that was currently part of the fortress' best gossip. The inuyoukai paused, his eyes flashing ominously, his claws curling into tight fists of anger. His son had been attacked, his bloodline had been shamed and now he was here to demand satisfaction from his lord and liege.

 

“That filth put his hands on my son!”

 

Sesshomaru looked bored. “I have heard the tale.”

 

Jano had informed him of the incident, laughing like an overgrown puppy as he wiped tears of mirth from his eyes. “And then he made him call him hanyou-sama, Sessh! I damn near died!”

 

Fool, Sesshomaru thought, glancing behind the furious Hisuni and meeting his bodyguard's gaze. No trace of humor belied Jano's expression at the moment, his face was carefully composed and every bit as stoic as Sesshomaru's own.

 

“Hisuni,” he said finally, answering the man's deep annoyance. “I am also to understand the attack might have been provoked. Surely Yasuke is mature enough to understand that words do have consequences.”

 

“There's no excuse for that! He struck my son without warning, no challenge, no formal declaration of intent, he just jumped on him like a common beast!”

 

That does indeed sound like my little brother, Sesshomaru thought dryly. He was careful not to show any hint of his thoughts. “I must concur. My brother is nothing if not uncivilized.”

 

He expected to have to endure a few more minutes of Hisuni's ranting before he could dismiss the irate lord. He had absolutely no plans of doing anything about the incident; it was hardly his concern that Yasuke now found himself humiliated. Indeed, such a lesson might even be beneficial to the young demon's character.

 

Hisuni obviously didn't agree with his thoughts. “My lord, I demand satisfaction. That filthy half-breed dared to assault a member of my clan, humiliated him publicly and caused him physical damage.”

 

Sesshomaru glanced over at Jano for confirmation. “Broke his nose in two places, my lord. The bruises are most impressive.”

 

“Impressive?” Hisuni exploded, turning on Jano. “You were right there and didn't a damned thing to prevent it. Are not members of the household guard supposed to keep order within this fortress? Your lack of action is simply…”

 

“Not your business,” Sesshomaru interrupted coldly. He stood up and stared down Hisuni until the other demon dropped his eyes. “Hisuni, we've known each other for decades and I have always given you the respect your position deserves. I have no time to settle a petty squabble like this and urge you to also let the matter drop. Yasuke is of age and capable of settling his own affairs without your influence.”

 

“What of the insult to my clan?” Hisuni whispered, his eyes still flashing with suppressed rage. “Am I supposed to tolerate that, my lord? Am I supposed to allow my family name to be mocked in the court? All because you've allowed that underbred excuse for a hanyou to run loose his entire life and he doesn't have a shred of a clue how to behave or submit to his betters.”

 

Hisuni suddenly found himself staring into an implacable pair of golden eyes only inches from his own and realized he may well have overstepped the bounds of his lord's patience. It took all his will not to cower before Sesshomaru, who was an expert at intimidation on all levels.

 

“You are out of line,” the demon lord informed him.

 

“I apologize, my lord. Please forgive my words, I spoke in anger and intended no disrespect.” Hisuni kept his eyes on the floor, twitching as all his nerves were telling him to bow and show submission to a stronger youkai. The insult to his son would have to be dealt with otherwise; his lord was in no way sympathetic to his case.

 

“You may leave,” Sessh said finally, in a voice as cold as a winter night. Hisuni was relieved to bow deeply and leave Sesshomaru's presence.

 

“One more thing, Hisuni-sama.” There was a trace of a sneer in the lord's voice. “Kindly remember that when you insult my brother's bloodline, you are also insulting mine. We do, after all, share the same father.”

 

He waved his hand dismissively then and turned away, knowing Jano would escort the clanlord out of his rooms. It was just like his brother; barely a day inside these fortress walls and already Inuyasha was already making a damned nuisance of himself. An almost imperceptible sigh escaped his lips.

 

“Damn you anyway,” he murmured, thinking of pompous lords and their swaggering sons.

 

Sesshomaru allowed himself a faint smile. Hisuni's anger and Yasuke's humiliation meant nothing to him, at the moment he was quite distracted. Jano had noticed and Jano had been firmly told to mind his own business. His bodyguard had left it alone after that, but he swore he'd seen a grin.

 

“Insufferable,” he muttered without any rancor.

 

Moving as quietly as a moonlit ghost, Sesshomaru went back to the sleeping room. Unlike the guest accommodations, he preferred a much simpler décor. The heavy furnishings, which were so much a part of this fortress' history, were absent from his quarters by his own choice. Instead of elaborate wall hangings and artworks, his walls were bare stone. Simple matting covered his floor and his bed was a mere futon. He had a deep dislike of the opulence most lords liked to surround themselves with. He knew he got this trait from his father, a man who had been more comfortable in full battle armor than the most finely woven silk.

 

However, he had not inherited his father's love of battle, his fascination with the tactics of managing a large fighting force. Sesshomaru reflected on the irony of that, considering that his daiyoukai blood gave him the ability to lead and the desire for conquest. He had simply rejected the idea of becoming a great general like Inutaisho.

 

Not that he hadn't shed his share of blood, be it human or youkai. He was a perfectly engineered killing machine when it came right down to it. Sesshomaru had no illusions and no regrets about who or what he was. It wasn't until he entered the darkened room and knelt beside her, jealous of the moonlight that played across her hair that he began to wonder exactly what he was becoming.

 

He had chosen a human woman.

 

He had chosen to sire a hanyou child.

 

What the hell was wrong with him?

 

Rubbing his face, feeling as confused as he'd been in years, Sesshomaru, the dreaded demon lord of the West, son of the infamous Inutaisho, contemplated the unexpected turns his life had taken.

 

oOo

 

“A what?” Inuyasha bellowed, upsetting the quiet morning conversation between his friends. He glared at the young dog demon in front of him, the poor boy was starting to shake under the intense scrutiny of the cranky half-demon.

 

“A formal challenge, hanyou-sama,” the boy whispered respectfully.

 

Inuyasha scowled and yanked the parchment out of the messenger's hand. His brows furrowed angrily. “That stupid bastard, I don't fucking believe it!”

 

Miroku leaned on his elbow and tried to read the slip of paper. “Someone sent you a formal challenge?”

 

“That bloody idiot puppy from yesterday,” Inuyasha growled.

 

Shippou started to giggle. “The one you got in a fight with?”

 

Kagome snorted. “You mean the one he beat up and humiliated.”

 

Inuyasha glared at her. “He fucking had it coming, Kagome! I tried to walk away, I tried to be peaceful-like.”

 

Giggles and snorts of laughter filled the room. Inuyasha's ears flattened on his head in annoyance. “It's not funny!”

 

“It sounds funny,” Makiko commented, entering the room. She looked around at her humans and frowned at the youthful messenger who was standing wide-eyed by the door. Her gaze fell on the parchment and her face paled and then grew angry.

 

“How dare he?” she breathed. “I thought even Hisuni's son would have more intelligence than this!”

 

“Is something wrong, Makiko?” Kagome asked. She was beginning to wonder if there was something more grave going on. Maybe a challenge was a very serious business, meaning a fight to the death. In which case, she thought to herself, that Yasuke is definitely courting disaster.

 

Makiko shot the young woman a stern look that relaxed when she realized the human girl was undoubtedly unfamiliar with inuyoukai customs. “A formal challenge is issued when one inuyoukai believes he has been insulted or wronged. In more serious cases, the challenge might be reviewed by the participants' clanlords to verify its validity. If the lords concur on the subject and believe the challenge to warranted, a hand to hand contest is staged.”

 

Her usually serene face was a little pink. “Yasuke is claiming he was the victim of an unprovoked attack and demands that his honor be avenged. Inuyasha must either apologize publicly or accept the challenge.”

 

“No problem,” the half-demon muttered, his eyes glinting with anger. “I'll be more than happy to beat his ass again.”

 

Makiko shook her head. “Absolutely not, Yasuke has to know he has no business issuing a challenge like that to you. Regardless of his humiliation, a formal challenge is out of the question.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. “I'm not apologizing,” he said in a voice that spoke ill for anyone who'd dare try to force him.

 

Makiko waved her hand at him. “Of course not. It's ridiculous for him to even send this challenge.”

 

“Why is that?” Miroku wanted to know.

 

The woman sighed. “Because Inuyasha is not a member of the court. And he has no clanlord to appeal to for protection, unless you wish to ask his bro…”

 

“No fucking way,” Inuyasha snarled. “The day I ask that bastard for his protection is the same day that I shave my head and become a priest!”

 

“I've never shaved my head,” Miroku commented.

 

Inuyasha whirled on the boy still waiting at the door. “Tell that pigfucker I accept his challenge. And tell him to make his peace with his ancestors, because I'm sending him right to them!”

 

Makiko covered her eyes and wished for patience. “It's non-lethal combat and you should not accept. It's a serious breach of etiquette.”

 

“I don't give a damn about my lack of etiquette,” Inuyasha glowered. “He wants a piece of me, I'm all over it.”

 

Makiko put her hands on her hips and tried to glare him back into his chair. “That's not the point! Challenges are status related, as an outsider you do not have status and cannot be challenged. Only a complete fool would challenge an outsider or a child!”

 

His fists slammed on the table. “I'm not a child and I'll break that overfed puppy into little pieces!”

 

Makiko's eyes snapped, completely unimpressed with Inuyasha's display of temper. Kagome and Shippou sat staring as the lovely youkai woman's calm demeanor disappeared. She leaned forward, her own claws digging into the table and her fangs glinting in the early morning sunlight. Kagome suddenly realized that female inuyoukai were every bit as intimidating as the males.

 

“Don't you realize you are being played with?” she hissed at him. “Don't you know you're being insulted with a challenge like this?”

 

Inuyasha stood up and matched her aggressive stance. “Don't you realize I don't give a fuck?” He was fed up with youkai insults and condescension. He'd had it with all the full blood bastards trying to push him around. A fight sounded like a great idea.

 

Makiko made an angry sound in the back of her throat. The young fool didn't comprehend the subtlety of the situation. In accepting a challenge like this, Inuyasha was asserting his bloodline, acknowledging that he was inuyoukai and therefore fair game to any young dog demon that wanted to try and prove his dominance against Sesshomaru's younger brother.

 

Had he actually been born into the complex social hierarchy, such challenges would have been carefully orchestrated and displayed. The insult was two-fold. As a status-less orphan outsider, it was lowly to place the hanyou in this position.

 

The other half of the insult was that Inuyasha was Sesshomaru's half-brother, son of Inutaisho and therefore second only in social station to his brother. Yasuke had to know full well that he didn't have the rank to back up that kind of social coup. Getting Inuyasha to accept that challenge, regardless of who won the actual fight, made it seem as if his position was stronger than she knew it truly was.

 

“Fine,” she snapped, breaking their locked gaze. “Be the fool, then. I do not care.” She stormed away then, her many braids clattering angrily against her back and her usually creamy pale skin still flushed with insult. Sesshomaru-sama would hear about this.

 

The room was quiet and no one seemed to have any appetite. Finally Inuyasha pushed himself away from the table and stalked out the door with murder on his face. Kagome looked over at Miroku and sighed.

 

“Why does he have to fight everything so much?” she murmured.

 

The monk put his chin in his bare hand and tapped the fingers of his rosary bound one on the table. “I'm not sure. Being here puts a lot of pressure on him. I think he sees that challenge as a way to relieve it, regardless of the consequences.”

 

“Just like him, got to solve everything with a fight,” the girl muttered.

 

Miroku smiled faintly. “As if we'd expect anything else. Think about it Kagome. Suppose you were all alone your whole life, without anyone to call your family and hardly even your friend. Just when you've come to accept your life as it is, and begin to open up to others, you're thrown into a situation where you've suddenly got to confront every rejection you've ever endured. Considering this is Inuyasha we're talking about, I'd say he's behaving with restraint.”

 

She chewed on her lip, a sure sign that she was nervous and confused. “It's not just about Sesshomaru. And it's not just being around other dog demons. It's this place, all the history of his life and he doesn't know anything about it.”

 

Miroku nodded sagely. “Exactly, Kagome. To have a brother like that and the memory of a legend for a father, I think I'd be so intimidated I'd hardly want to leave my room. Fighting is the only way he knows how to deal with what he's going through. If it hadn't been that Yasuke, it would be someone else.”

 

“God, I should go talk to him,” Kagome said softly. She felt horrendously guilty, how could she have been so insensitive to what must be going on in Inuyasha's heart?

 

Miroku continued to drum his fingers on the table. “That might be good,” he said finally. “You're really the only one he truly trusts. It might be good for him to be reminded of that, and that he's not alone anymore.”

 

As Kagome left, Shippou tried to follow her, only to be plucked up by his tail by a smiling monk. “Not this time,” he said grinning. “The last thing Inuyasha needs to deal with is you.”

 

“I just want to help,” the fox said brightly. Miroku's eyebrow raised and Shippou sensed defeat. The monk was way ahead of him on that subject.

 

“How about if we find Kohaku instead?” Miroku offered. “He should have some idea of how to keep the both of us from perishing of boredom.”

 

oOo

 

Kohaku was walking down the corridor, wondering why Makiko or Rin hadn't woken him earlier. Days at the fortress started at the crack of dawn, Makiko saw so reason to let him laze around in bed until the morning light fell across his face. Maybe she was feeling charitable because she knew about his emotionally draining reunion with his sister. Everything had just come tumbling out at once, he found himself babbling insanely into Sango's face, telling her everything that had happened.

 

Everything.

 

Like how it felt to kill their father. He'd been mindless, numb to pain and emotions, watching the blade slice through the body of his father, seeing it return to his own hand wet with the blood of his family, his sister. At the time, he'd been little more than a zombie even though his body was still alive. His hands moved with a killer's icy precision, his will a distant memory, but the horror had scalded the back of his throat. He'd been grateful when the arrows had pierced his body, grateful even when Sango had dropped dying beside him. Somehow it had seemed appropriate that they not be parted in death.

 

Sango hadn't died. She'd endured the horror of survival, waking to find herself covered in earth and lying on the dead bodies of her kin. Kohaku had no memories like that. He had died instead.

 

His next memory was pain, searing, blinding agony as something forced him back into his unwilling body. His mind, his soul, his memory...all were eaten by that all consuming fire. Kohaku knew only burning and pain, feeling his stiffening flesh being made mobile again, thickened blood forced to travel his veins.

 

And in his back, oh gods, that was the worst pain of all. A sliver of darkness and light, the unending war of souls human and demon. The shard had tormented him into awareness, corrupted by Naraku's evil, that tiny piece of eternity had then tortured him into submission. Hearing only Naraku's voice, waking to see those pitiless crimson eyes boring into his.

 

Please, he'd begged. Let me die. It hurts so much.

 

I can take your pain away, Kohaku. If you give yourself over to me. It's those weak human feelings of love and loss that bind you in agony. Let them go. Forget. Submit.

 

Yes, he'd agreed finally, too exhausted and heartsick to fight. Sango wouldn't have given up; their father wouldn't have given in. Kohaku was weak, he knew that. He wasn't worthy of their love in the first place, now he'd betrayed them again, betrayed them by not matching their strength or conviction.

 

He'd only wanted peace, the solace of forgetfulness. He had no needs that Naraku didn't prescribe; he'd had no thoughts that Naraku didn't plant in his mind. Tearfully, he confessed that to his sister, the pure bliss of being less than nothing.

 

Sango had cradled him against her, whispering comforts and Kohaku drank them in like salvation. She told him it wasn't his fault, it wasn't his doing. She'd also endured the pain of a shard in her back, the betrayal of trust that such a violation caused. Unlike her brother, she'd found friends and hope. It had been barely enough to keep her going, but somewhere she'd found strength and purpose. Her only goal had been to destroy Naraku and take back her little brother.

 

Kohaku smiled, he wanted to see her face, let her see his. And he'd smile and now the smile would touch his eyes. He'd slept in that morning and woken rested. He wondered if Sango had also been so lucky. With a light step, he went to her rooms, hoping to find her still asleep in bed so he could rush in and bounce her awake like he'd done when they were younger.

 

She wasn't there. Her rooms were empty and Kohaku turned to go, thinking that maybe she'd rose early and gone to breakfast. Her bed didn't look slept in. Kohaku was by now familiar with the household's routine and he seriously doubted if Aiko, Zumi, or one of Makiko's other people had zipped in here so early to make up the room. Kohaku's young face creased in a frown, wondering where his sister might have spent the night.

 

He jumped when he heard the sound of stone sliding against stone and ducked behind an elaborate tapestry of doves. If he didn't move, he wouldn't be noticed but he did wonder what had prompted him to hide. From where he stood, he could just peek out from behind the tapestry. Rin said this place was full of secret passages, strange winding stairs and tunnels connected the rooms for reasons even the original occupants would have forgotten. It seemed like one of these passages existed in his sister's room.

 

Sango's laugh startled him; it was low and soft but unmistakable. “So this is how you do your disappearing and appearing. I honestly didn't believe you could walk through walls.”

 

“When the walls have hidden doors, I find it considerably easier,” a soft, deep voice said. Kohaku's eyes widened and he started to breathe harder.

 

Sesshomaru-sama?

 

Edging closer to the wall, Kohaku managed to peep around the tapestry to make sure his ears weren't playing tricks on him. His sister was standing in the room, wearing the same kimono as the day before and shock filled him. Sesshomaru-sama was with her, his hand toying affectionately with Sango's hair. The demon lord leaned close and nuzzled her.

 

“Perhaps I let you out of bed too soon this morning.”

 

Sango's lighthearted laugh surprised him; he could hear the delight in her tone like he'd never heard before. “I don't have youkai stamina,” she said teasingly. “I'm just a human, I need rest and food if I'm going to keep up with you.”

 

“Then I will leave you to tend to your needs,” he said, stroking her cheek and Kohaku's jaw dropped open. Sesshomaru leaned close and kissed his sister on the mouth. Not just a simple peck, a full passionate claiming of her lips. Sango gasped as he broke the kiss and stepped away.

 

“That was a promise to tend to your other needs myself.”

 

There was the stone against stone sound again, signaling that the demon lord had gone. Sango whistled to herself as she disappeared into the bathing room and Kohaku heard the sound of water flowing. It was a good time to slip out undetected.

 

He didn't know what to think. His sister, his beloved sister, and the cold demon lord. Was that the reason after all? Why Sesshomaru had gone to such lengths to salvage his life? Kohaku was very surprised, and a little embarrassed. He didn't mean to spy, if Sango wanted him to know she would have told him. Did that mean that she was ashamed to tell him? That the demon lord had taken her as his lover, that she was the reason behind his strange and merciful behavior.

 

Kohaku froze suddenly. Maybe she wasn't willing, despite what he'd seen. Maybe she'd traded her body for his life. He hoped that wasn't the case. He felt unworthy enough as it was.

 

Father was dead, their village was dead. Sango and himself were all that remained. The young man straightened his back and looked ahead with resolve. It wasn't his business, but he was all she had and he wanted dearly to be deserving of her. If Sesshomaru had forced her into a liaison, if he wasn't treating his sister's honor with respect, Kohaku would have to say something. He was her brother, her only living relative and he'd never stand by and let his sister pay for his mistakes. If she wasn't completely willing in her participation in their affair, only Kohaku could say what needed said.

 

oOo

 

Storming around the fortress, no clue where he wanted to go, he only knew that movement made it easier to deal with his anger. So many damned emotions kept flooding him. What he wouldn't give to find something to kill with his bare hands. He had to settle for shooting dirty looks at the demons that encountered him, household staff mainly.

 

A few tried to smile or exchange a pleasantry. “Good morning, hanyou-sama.”

 

He snorted and ignored them all. The last thing he needed was people trying to be friendly to him; he already knew they didn't mean it. And who gave a fuck anyway? He wasn't running to Sesshomaru for help or acceptance, they could all kiss his half-breed ass before he'd let them make a fool of him.

 

“Inuyasha! Wait up!”

 

Kagome, he thought and deliberately slowed his pace. He didn't stop, making the girl run to catch up with him. What was her problem now, going to chew his ass for not listening to Makiko? Going to lecture him about how he shouldn't get in fights? Damn, he was half dog demon after all, conflicts formed around him regardless of what he thought about it. Stupid girl should know that by now.

 

She ran up along side him and was panting slightly. Okay, maybe he shouldn't have made her work to catch him. He could have waited. Once again, he regretted his temper. It wasn't Kagome's fault he had problems like ignorant assholes wanting to challenge him.

 

He thought wistfully of the peaceful village near the well. It was probably the closest thing he'd ever called home because there the villagers had stopped looking at him like he was some kind of freak. They still gave him wide berth when he was in a temper, but acceptance had come slowly over the years. He was no longer the monster, no longer the dangerous demon creature to be feared.

 

Instead, villagers looked at him with an amused tolerance. He was no threat, no outsider to them. He was just Inuyasha.

 

“Hey,” she said, looking up at him with those enormous eyes. “What are you so upset about? Makiko was just trying to help.”

 

“Oh, is that it?” he sneered. “I don't need her help or anyone else's either. Bastard wants my fist down his throat, that's exactly what he's going to get.”

 

Kagome bit back a sharp retort. “This is really hard for you, isn't it?”

 

He glared at her, his expression tight and angry. In a voice so low she had to strain to hear it, he answered her. “Yeah.”

 

She reached out to him, felt him fight not to flinch away when she took his hand. One edgy, defensive hanyou. Just perfect. Kagome dug her fingers into his arm and planted her feet. He stopped and shot her a guarded look.

 

“It's me, remember?” she told him in a soft voice. “You don't have to push me away.”

 

Inuyasha ducked away from her bright gaze, his hair hiding his eyes. How could explain when he couldn't even understand it himself? He was on edge and so tense that he felt like his skin was peeling off from pure stress.

 

“I'm sorry, Kagome,” he muttered at last. “This place is doing something to me.”

 

Her hand stroked his, soothing him. “You wanna talk about it?”

 

He sighed. It was all instinct, that much he knew. How could he put into words everything that was going on inside of him? Could he tell her that the scents in the air woke his blood? Could he tell her that his ears twitched at the sound of their voices, the stone of the fortress echoed in his bones? Half of him was telling him that this was it; this was what he'd been searching for his whole life.

 

The other half, his human side, was scared shitless of what it meant.

 

Kagome felt tears welling up in her eyes at his continued silence. He wouldn't talk to her, wouldn't or couldn't, she didn't know which. Either way, it hurt her to see him struggle like this. She knew Inuyasha, how much he hated being made vulnerable by anything. Here in the house of his father, his defenses were peeling away, leaving him bare inside and raw with dealing with feelings he'd always kept locked away.

 

Not knowing how else to express her love of him, her acceptance and unwavering support, she slipped her arms around Inuyasha and hugged him.

 

His hands came up behind her, uncertain and tentative. Slowly, his arms tightened around her shoulders, pressing her closer to him. Inuyasha breathed in the gentle scent of her hair and felt better. It couldn't be that bad, whatever was going on inside him, not if Kagome was here. Wordless and grateful, he stroked her hair and tried to let the anxiety drain out of him.

 

It feels so good to hold him and be held, she thought, pressing her cheek against his chest and listening to the strong beat of his heart. He felt warm and vital, smelling faintly as he always did of deep forest. She remembered the first time he'd embraced her, how it made her heart race. After everything they'd been through, endured and fought over, it still raced just as fast.

 

Kagome put her palms on his chest and gently pushed herself back, tipping up her chin so she could look at him. “It's going to be okay,” she said softly, her eyes shining with reassurance. “No matter what, I'll always be right here beside you.”

 

It was probably more than he could stand. He was glad she didn't need him to say anything, articulate what he was thinking. No matter how hard he tried, he always managed to screw up moments like this, say the wrong thing, put his foot in him mouth and get flattened for it. Just this once, he decided to back off and not let it happen. Instead, needing to respond in some way to thank her for the gift of her friendship, he tilted his face towards hers and brushed her lips with a feathery soft kiss.

 

Kagome was startled, both by his actions and by their gentleness. Her spine felt like melted butter, curving her body against his as she accepted the kiss and returned it. Oh, please don't say anything, Inuyasha, she begged silently. Everything between them always went wrong, he said the wrong thing, and she took it badly. There'd be tears and shouting, swearing and sitting. His mouth was so soft on hers, his lips so full and warm, she wanted to sink into them and never come up again.

 

Inuyasha pulled away, a bit lightheaded from the sweetness of her mouth. His forehead rested against the top of her head, his silvery hair falling over her inky black tresses. She felt so delicate under his hands, stirring him with the desire to protect her always. Smiling faintly, he reached to touch her cheek before he put his hand back in hers and went back to the room where Miroku and Shippou were still having breakfast.

 

For once, he didn't mess it up. Didn't jump on her like a horny dog demon either, didn't say something stupid or make her feel a fool for caring about him.

 

Maybe there was some hope for him after all. The words of his brother came back to him, that crack about not having the nerve to bed her. What do you know about it, he thought at Sesshomaru. How would you know what it's like to care about someone? Did no one ever feel that way towards you?

 

Surprisingly, he felt a waver of pity for Sesshomaru if that was truly the case. In his own way, he had been every bit as isolated, his heart every bit as walled up as this fortress. Kagome had saved him from that. She had taught him to find ways to care about her, reach the human side of him. Sesshomaru didn't have a human side, being pure perfect youkai and proud. Maybe Sango could thaw the prince of ice.

 

If a girl from another world could teach a selfish bastard of a hanyou to care about something other than himself, there was hope for even dark demon lords of the West.