InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Fulfill a Duty ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

To Fulfill a Duty

Chapter Seven

By: DeadBHunter

"talking" `thinking'

Previous Chapter: Chapter Six

"Child," Junsui called to Kagome who was reading a book in the shade of the Goshinboku.

Kagome looked up and greeted Junsui, not really paying attention to the miko. She was too busy looking for Inuyasha and his familiar silver hair and golden eyes.

"SESSHOMARU!?!"

Chapter Seven

`SESSHOMARU? What is he doing here! If he hurt any of my friends…ooooooh… There'll be hell to pay!"

"Why are you here!?! What are you doing here!?! You better not have hurt any of my friends!" Kagome shouted at the Tai youkai.

"Bitch," Sesshomaru interrupted.

Kagome continued her rant as if he had not spoken one word. "Inuyasha is supposed to be here, not you!"

"Wench," Sesshomaru cut in again.

"Oh yea! My name is Kagome! Not bitch, wench, or whatever else comes to your mind!"

"Kagome," Sesshomaru said.

`Eh? When did he start listening to me? Why did he call me by my name? Since when did he call HUMANS' by their names?' Kagome had conveniently forgotten that she had practically screamed at Sesshomaru to call her by her name.

Sesshomaru watched the girl's face change from one of anger to one of confusion. He noticed her silence after he called her name, and stored it in the back of his mind for future use.

"Remember who you are speaking to," Sesshomaru warned Kagome. "I will not tolerate any disrespect." He glared at her, slightly amused at the sight of her cringing away from him.

"I don't care who you are! You don't deserve any respect! You hurt Inuyasha and my friends! Why else would you be here? Inuyasha brought me here, not you! Junsui said so!"

At this, Sesshomaru turned and glared at the aged miko at his side. "You dare lie and replace my actions with those of my hanyou brother's?"

"I would never do such a thing, my lord. I had told Kagome that you brought her hear and asked her if she would like you to visit her, and she sai-"

Before Junsui could finish, Kagome butt in. "You told me that Inuyasha brought me here. You asked if I wanted him to visit and I said yes!" Kagome accused.

"I did not, child. You assumed that on your own. I said that a silver-haired youkai had brought you here and was waiting for you to heal. I never said that it was the hanyou that I help birth many years ago."

"You assisted Inuyasha's mother in his birth?" Kagome asked, with disbelief in her eyes. Thoughts about Sesshomaru had left her mind to be replaced with those of Inuyasha. Her once loud voice had turned soft at the mention of Inuyasha's birth.

"Hai, child. It was many years ago, yet this forest still remembers that day."

"If that's so, then why are you here, Sesshomaru?" questioned Kagome. "I thought you hated humans. Why would you save a human, your brother's traveling companion at that?"

"You will address me as Sesshomaru-sama," ordered Sesshomaru. "I only saved you to uphold my honor. Had you not saved me, then I would have never returned the favor. I did not ask you to save me, but my honor will not let me watch you die at the hands of the hanyou Naraku, no matter how foolish your actions were."

`What a jerk! He could at least thank me, instead of talking about his honor!' Kagome thought angrily.

"That may be true, Sesshomaru-sama," she said, saying the "sama" sarcastically, "but then why isn't Inuyasha here?"

"The hanyou, with his inferior abilities and tainted blood, would not be able to keep up with my pace, the pace of a full-blooded inu-youkai. You would have arrived here later, something that my honor would not allow."

"Okay," Kagome said hesitantly. "So when do I get to go back to Inuyasha and my friends?"

"I have told my half-brother and your companions that I will bring you back when Junsui claims that you are fully healed. Before then, you must stay here, away from your traveling companions. I highly doubt any of them are capable of healing injuries such as the ones you sustained."

"That's not true! Kaede-bachan is a good healer. She's healed me and my friends more times then I can count! Sango-chan is also helpful when she knows what to do!" Kagome retorted, getting more and more worked up.

"None of these people are qualified or skilled enough to heal injuries suffered by a dark youki. Few are capable of doing so, and all of those who can, reside in my lands."

"No! I've met others that can heal youki wounds! Jinenji, someone that I have met while searching for Shikon shards, has many rare herbs that can heal almost any wound!" Kagome shouted at him.

"You are talking about the hanyou, are you not? The one that was shunned by the villagers for his tainted blood, much like my half-brother," Sesshomaru sneered.

"Even if there are no `qualified healers' near Inuyasha's Forest, I can still recover there! My friends will help me. Can't I just stay in Kaede's village?"

Sesshomaru acquired a tinted red on the edge of his eyes, unused to having his orders unheeded immediately. He did not like it one bit. Utilizing his youkai speed, he stepped toward Kagome and lifted her up with his hand.

"Do not question my decisions, human. Do not test me." His pale, strong hand tightened on her slender throat. She gagged and her blue eyes rolled back in her head. "Obey my orders. If you have a death wish, then tell me now. You may die now if you so desire."

Kagome was having a hard time breathing with Sesshomaru's hand around her neck. She could see a faint green glow underneath her chin and knew that it was Sesshomaru's poison. Her hair fluttered with the wind and seemed to slap at his hand. From blurry eyes, she saw the grass ripple in the wind, like waves of the ocean.

"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama. I will stay as you wish," Kagome choked out, her eyes glazing over slightly. Her own hands grasped desperately at his, trying to loosen his hold. From behind them, Junsui watched in increasing agitation. Her smooth face showed no sign of her emotion, despite the worry she was feeling for Kagome.

Sesshomaru dropped the struggling girl unceremoniously on the ground and turned to look at Junsui. "Come, we will leave now."

"As you wish, Sesshomaru-sama."

Sesshomaru spared one last glance at Kagome, and in a flutter of cloth, Sesshomaru and Junsui faded away from sight, leaving Kagome to recover and accept the fact that Sesshomaru was her new keeper.

~In the normal world~

Both youkai and miko had left the trance state and had entered the normal world.

"Miko," Sesshomaru started, "remove your wards now."

"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama," she replied. Junsui hurriedly walked toward the edge of her home to remove the wards she had set to protect the two from any visitors while they were in the trance state.

When Junsui had finished taking off the wards, Sesshomaru left for the forest. He settled himself in the high branches of a tree, and dozed off after he had scanned the surrounding area for any signs of trouble. And for other youkai that might recognize the Lord of the Western Lands sleeping in trees outside of a human dwelling, like a dog left outside in the rain.

Junsui banked the fire in her hut, and laid out her futon. She checked on Kagome one last time, making sure that the silver bracelet was once again in its rightful place on Kagome's wrist, and that she was warm for the night.

Outside, a wolf howled, calling to its pack. Two heads turned toward the noise and thought of their families that had long ago left the Earth.

~Kaede's village~

"That bastard! That FUCKING bastard!"

"Calm down, Inuyasha. Cutting down trees will not bring Kagome back, even if it will help Kaede survive the oncoming winter. Sesshomaru-sama gave his word to bring Kagome back when she is healed. His honor forced him to heal Kagome, and will make him return Kagome to us. Do not worry, Inuyasha. If he has one thing, then it is honor," Miroku wisely said.

Without Kagome around, Inuyasha began losing his temper more and more often. Shippo became less energetic and never seemed in the mood to tease the grumpy hanyou. Sango seemed to spend increasing lengths of time in the hot springs taking a bath. Even Miroku was affected. His lecherous ways had come to a temporary standstill. Without Kagome in their midst, morals were low and a silence had started to overcome the once lively talking of the group of friends, now, minus one human girl.

A/N: Here's Chapter 7! I think my chapters are getting shorter and shorter *sigh* I apologize for getting this one out kind of late, its already late Friday night! Gomen nasai, everyone! Don't forget to review and add to the little pile of reviews of collected!