InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yume ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and gang owned by Takahashi-sensei in this reality. Sesshoumaru owned by me in an alternate reality. (Get the picture? I'm insane! BWAHAHAHAH!)

** Going on vacation for a week, so don't count on posting...but I'll promise to try! **

Yume

Previously:

He, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands and son of the Great Demon Inutaisho, did not feel anything so mundane, so plebeian, as emotion for a weak, worthless human wench. A human wench from a dream, no less. He was not even certain she truly existed, though the evidence of his left arm suddenly being in existence seemed to provide proof of some sort of vast power at work.

So he determined to find the miko whose power promised to allow him to wield the Tessaiga as soon as possible. He would end these aggravating dreams once and for all. Then, he was certain, his heart would be at peace once more, safe from emotional incursion behind his walls of iron control.

Alone, a forlorn voice whispered regretfully.

Safe, he shot back, though without the force of conviction he would have displayed a week ago.

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Chapter 6

After three days of hard traveling, the group had arrived back at the village in record time. Kagome was still exhausted, her face pale with deep shadows under her eyes, as if the enormous power she had drawn forth had somehow bruised the delicate skin with its force. Since that first night, Inuyasha had tested his ability to control the Tessaiga without issues. The unnerved hanyou had drawn the rusty old katana and it had smoothly transformed into the great fang without hesitation or mishap.

No one in the group could think of what to make of it all, least of all Kagome, who had been unable to make a repeat performance-she was too drained to even try. She felt as if she had been hooked up to a giant Hoover and had her insides sucked completely out. Now she knew how a helium balloon felt after being deflated. Only without the resultant high, squeaky voice and fun.

It was night again, and it was almost time for the new moon. They had spent two days already discussing the situation with Kaede, listening to her wise advice, and coming up with a plan.

When they had arrived at the village, the aged miko had taken one look at Kagome, clinging tiredly to Inuyasha's back, and ushered them into her hut. After the hanyou had gently settled Kagome on the wooden floor and retreated to the other side of the cook fire, Kagome had proceeded to relate the bizarre series of events which had precipitated the group's early return to seek advice.

She told the tale from start to finish, beginning with her month of dreaming and ending with the Tessaiga's mysterious reluctance, however briefly, to accept Inuyasha's mastery over it. Though loath to cause Inuyasha further emotional pain, Kagome did not leave any details out of the telling-not even how dream-Inuyasha `killed' her in perfect mimicry of Kikyou's original death at Naraku's hands.

No, the young miko did not spare detail, except for one: she could not bring herself to relate that she was certain Sesshoumaru had been one of the trio in the vision. For some odd, inexplicable reason, she could not bring herself to face the group if she admitted the hated brother of her best friend, the powerful taiyoukai who had tried to kill them numerous times, had made an appearance in her dreams.

Actually, if Kagome were to be completely honest with herself, Sesshoumaru made more than just an `appearance'; he made a deep, lasting impression. One so profound she was finding it much easier to deal with if she simply did not deal with it at all. Not the feeling of rightness she felt when she first spied him each night. Not the tingling surge of power that coursed through her body when her hand joined his on the hilt of the Tessaiga. And definiely not the burning need for...something...that swept her senses whenever they touched.

Denial was a beautiful thing, especially when you found yourself on the receiving end of a mind-bogglingly bizarre chain of happenstance-and when viewed relatively to the rest of her life, that was saying quite a bit. And so Kagome instead skirted the truth and insisted she did not know who the other demon in the dream was, just that he looked almost identical to Inuyasha. The implication she let drop was that she perceived there to be two Inuyashas in the dream, but, though no one said anything, Kagome was not convinced she had side-tracked all suspicion. The possibilities were too obvious to everyone.

After the recitation, Kaede had approached the young reincarnation of her sister and examined her closely. She had gazed for a particularly long time into Kagome's eyes, seeming to search the warm, chocolate depths for something, grunting occasionally. Then she had turned to Inuyasha, abruptly demanding to see Tessaiga. As the uncharacteristically silent hanyou held it out, she perused it at thoroughly as she had Kagome, never touching the cracked leather hilt or wooden scabbard. When she wanted to see the blade, Inuyasha moved to draw, but the old woman stopped him, instead asking Kagome to bare the metal to her scrutiny. The blade pulsed in her hand, but did not transform.

Humming and humphing some more, she finally settled back on her heels, gaze swiveling between miko and katana for a moment before coming to rest on the hanyou, who was by now twitching with impatience.

"Kaede-baa-chan?" Kagome questioned, unable to judge from the aged face if she had discovered anything.

At the old miko's continued silence, though, Inuyasha's limited supply of forbearance evaporated and he snapped out, "Out with it, old hag! Did you find anything or not?"

Kaede sighed in resignation, too used to the hanyou's rude behavior to pay it much heed, and settled herself to speak.

"I do not know exactly why you, Inuyasha, were not able to undo Tessaiga's transformation," she paused and turned to look significantly at Kagome. "However, I do have a suspicion why you were able to briefly control the demon blade."

Assuring herself everyone's undivided attention was firmly fixed on her next words, Kaede reached out to lift the glass vial of Shikon shards around Kagome's neck.

"This is the most likely reason the sword is behaving as it is," she declared. A heavy silence descended as the meaning took time to sink in.

Kagome brought her own hand up to cup the smooth contours of the glass, watching with detached wonder as the shards, that should have been innocently sparkling in the late afternoon light, were softly glowing instead. How long have they been doing that, Kagome wondered to herself. In her fatigue and the mad dash to get Kaede's advice she had failed to notice the phenomenon.

"I'd wager they have been glowing since the night of your last dream, if not before," the wise woman said, seeming to read the confused young woman's mind.

"But why, Kaede-sama?" Miroku asked.

"You don't think this is some trick of Naraku's, do you?" Sango inserted before the old miko could explain.

"I'm not certain, Sango," was the reply. Kaede shook her head briefly to display that uncertainty, then addressed the monk's question, "but I am almost positive the Shikon no Tama has something to do with it."

"Please, Kaede-baa-chan, tell us what you're thinking," Kagome implored, the tension of not knowing, not even having the tiniest clue what was happening inside her own mind and body tearing at her.

Kaede locked her warm, one-eyed gaze on the beautiful young woman from the future, and inwardly thought how awful it was that she would have her burdens added to. Kagome was such an open, warm person-the person she thought Kikyou would have been had she lived-and she deserved relief from the trials of her life. The most she could do, however, was explain the probable situation to the best of her ability and help out where she could.

"The Shikon no Tama seems to be forging a bond between itself and the Tessaiga," she began, and waited for the firestorm that is Inuyasha's temper to break over their heads.

As predicted, "What the hell is that supposed to mean, old hag? Explain yourself!" was what emerged from his mouth.

"I am trying to, Inuyasha, so if you will hold your questions and comments until I am finished...," at his grudging nod, she continued, "as I said, the Shikon no Tama and the Tessaiga seem to be forging a bond.

"Kagome has become a conduit between the jewel and the sword, as she is the only one to have a direct connection to both objects. Since the Shikon was shattered, it has been trying to repair itself-to repair itself it needs power, and the closest source of power to the shards you carry is the Tessaiga.

"You may ask `how it is siphoning power off the sword?' and I would instead ask you this: Who was the one who broke the barrier and puled the blade from its resting place?"

Every eye turned to fix upon Kagome, whose own eyes had widened at the implications. She was afraid to meet Inuyasha's gaze, certain she would see anger, and possibly hurt, in their golden depths. Luckily, she was saved from that scrutiny when Kaede continued.

"Kagome is the protector of the Shikon no Tama-it was embedded in her body, which has no doubt absorbed some of the power-so she has a link to the jewel. She was the first to release the Tessaiga-broke the barrier neither Inuyasha nor Sesshoumaru could-so she has a link to the Fang of Inutaisho. Kagome is the medium between these two sources of power, and it has allowed her a level of control over both that will only increase in time, I think.

"The closer the Shikon gets to completion, the more it will strain to hasten that process. The more it strives, the more energy it will require to call out to the pieces of itself. The more energy required, the more it will draw from Kagome and the Tessaiga. Perhaps you have been tiring more easily than usual, Kagome?" Kaede queried the miko.

At Kagome's affirmative, Kaede turned to face Inuyasha with an expression of utmost gravity. The hanyou's own face appeared beyond shock, but his eyes were gimlet-bright and glittering, taking in every word that passed the old woman's lips with intense concentration.

"Inuyasha, this also means that the longer the Shikon remains incomplete, the more energy will be depleted from Kagome-and from the sword. As Tessaiga weakens," Kaede paused. A pained look of uncertainty crossed her weathered features before she seemed to gather strength and continued, "you will begin to lose control over it."

Kagome gasped at that, thinking how much more difficult it would be to battle shard-powered youkai without the benefit of the Kaze no Kizu and Bakuryuuha. She had utmost faith in Inuyasha's natural abilities as a fighter, but the search would go that much faster with those weapons at their disposal...and if what Kaede said was true, then speed was of the essence.

"What you're saying is that I won't be able to use my attacks," Inuyasha said slowly, as if just beginning to comprehend the level to which he would be reduced during a fight, and what it would mean if they faced Naraku before fixing the problem.

Kaede nodded her head in agreement, and the hanyou seemed to deflate. Miroku raised his hand a bit to catch the wise woman's attention.

"Kaede-sama," he began in a soft, hesitant voice, "if Inuyasha loses his control-his connection-to the Tessaiga, doesn't that mean the seal on his youkai blood will be affected, as well?"

Absolute silence descended on the interior of the tiny hut. No one breathed in the oppressive air that suddenly seemed to congeal into a great mass of stale, stagnant fear. Miroku's words hit the silent void and rippled out in tiny waves of alarm as everyone within imagined the horror that would befall the hanyou if he were deprived of the seal restraining his immensely powerful pure-youkai blood.

Full-youkai transformation. Uncontrolled bloodlust. Madness.

Inuyasha would turn on anyone, driven to insanity by the raging force of his father's potent blood, unable to recognize the difference between friend or foe.

Kagome whimpered in fear and guilt. This was her fault. If she had not brought the Shikon no Tama to this era, if she had not shattered the jewel, if she had not pulled the Tessaiga...And now, she could be the cause of her best friend's descent into madness. They may have to destroy him just to save the innocent populace.

No! It would not happen-she would not let it!

Bolting to her feet, Kagome dashed out the door and toward the forest, tears already running down her cheeks. She needed solitude to come to terms with her role in this colossal catastrophe, no matter how unwitting is was. She needed to clear her mind and think of where to go from here.

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It was generally agreed (`generally', because Inuyasha most definitely-and vociferously-did not agree) that this was a problem that they could not afford to ignore. Inuyasha argued that, since he had not encountered any problems since, that they continue on their shard search and deal with any issues as they arrived. The faster they completed the Shikon, the faster it would release its hold on the fang's power, right? The hot-headed hanyou felt that Kagome's wielding of the Tessaiga had been a fluke, anyway, not likely to be repeated, but if he did go mad, he said, he'd just leave them.

The rest of the group and Kaede felt they could not afford to take the risk that something would go wrong at the worst possible moment-say, in battle with Naraku. As Miroku so calmly pointed out, without Inuyasha's skills with Tessaiga, their little band would be decimated without the evil mastermind having to break much of a sweat. It was even a very real possibility that Naraku had something to do with this whole situation in the first place. A new plan to break them, maybe.

Kagome felt that this was the only argument that seemed to have any sort of impact on Inuyasha's staunch refusal to pause in their quest for the Shikon shards, and his absolute denial that he might go insane and slaughter them all. So they left the next morning to find Toutousai.

The wizened old youkai was the maker of both the Tessaiga and Sesshoumaru's Tenseiga, so was the being most likely to have the clearest insight into the difficulty-how it had happened, and how to counteract its effects-besides Kaede. They were hoping he would have a viable alterative method to sealing Inuyasha's youkai blood, as well.

They had been traveling to Toutousai's volcanic home for three days now, and each day seemed to sap more energy from her than the last. Kagome fell asleep as soon as they settled down to camp, praying to any gods who would listen to help keep Inuyasha safe and sane while they figured out how to solve their predicament before it degenerated into an unrivaled catastrophe.

As soon as her eyes closed, it seemed, the young miko found herself back in the dream. She experienced it nightly still, but it was different now, changed. Kagome noted the discrepancies, though increasing in frequency, were subtle and did not affect the actual events of the vision, only her perceptions.

For starters, she began the dream in the woman's body, not as a protoplasmic cloud hovering over the scene until she got her cue to go on stage, as it were. Instead of perceiving all through a dreamy haze, now her senses were immediately and vividly attuned to her surroundings-and to the man facing her.

Tall and powerful and impossibly beautiful, he seemed to glow in the weak moonlight filtering through the bare branches of the surrounding forest. He seemed supremely untouchable in his pristine whiteness: white hair, white skin, white clothing. Only the splashes of night-greyed red decorating his shoulder and sleeves seemed to award him any color.

That, and his molten gold gaze, burning like twin embers in the misty night, piercing her soul with their intensity and hunger. Those topaz irises seared through her soul, just as the feel of his skin heated her heart.

God! What was she thinking? This was Sesshoumaru! Oh, yes, she was very much cognizant of exactly who this being with the seductive, predatory nature was, and it only served to heighten her awareness of him as a virile male.

No! Her mind screamed at her to run, retreat, but as ever, she was locked within the sequence of the dream, unable to deviate her course. Maybe even unwilling to.

Always after waking, Kagome would puzzle at the incongruous flickers of emotion she surprized on his handsome visage and rising in his eyes. She could almost name things like `tenderness', `longing', `regret', and at the very end, `loss'. Powerless to deny her own answering feelings, she was confused by the tangle of intense sentiment the two of them created on the dream plane. It was almost as if they were forming an emotional bond.

Kagome did not know what was happening to the vision, nor how or why she and Sesshoumaru were somehow able to deviate from the previously set pattern (though she noted that Inuyasha's role never changed). The miko marked that the basic steps were all there: greet Sesshoumaru, lead him to the clearing, perform time warp, bonding ceremony, transform fang, Shikon show-and-tell...then die at Inuyasha's hand. The only thing missing was the healing of the taiyoukai.

That singular difference stood out, as it was an event unique to the night she had actually transformed Tessaiga in reality. She didn't have to wonder at its meaning, though, for the answer was readily apparent in Sesshoumaru's now-changed appearance in her dream: In all visions subsequent to that night, he possessed both upper limbs.

She had no doubts it was his own flesh-not a replacement-because the night before she had run dream hands under the collar of his haori, an almost desperate need to feel the texture of his bare skin tearing at her insides with sharp talons of desire. The great youkai lord had helped her remove his armor and eased the thick silk garment off his shoulders. She had sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of him revealed.

Standing in the moonlight, the pale rays creating interesting shadows against the planes and hollows of his torso, he had appeared sculpted of marble; a work of art. There were no scars or blemishes, no shifts in skin tone to suggest every inch of flesh displayed before her hungry eyes was not his own. She had trailed questing fingers lightly over his smooth skin, expecting to feel the coolness his image suggested, but was shocked to find him hot to the touch. Was he burning as she was?

She had awoken from that dream breathing raggedly and drenched in sweat, but instead of the usual wash of cold she felt upon waking from the perception of her own `death', she had been on fire, the splashes of blood overlaid by images of a silent, silver-gilt god with glowing golden eyes and firm lips...

Kagome was too ashamed of the obviously sensual, and sometimes downright erotic, nature of the dreams to confide it to anyone. As far the Inuyasha and the rest of her friends knew, her visions had ceased that night a week ago when the Shikon no Tama had drawn power off the sword through her for the first time. She felt a little twinge of guilt for her lie by omission, but she consoled herself by promising that, should anything change in the dream (other than the sexual-fantasy thing), then she would tell them immediately.

Besides, she shuddered to think what they would say if she told them she feared she may be, in the smallest, most minuscule of ways, falling for the taiyoukai of her dreams.

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Alright, there you have it. At least someone is beginning to admit to romantic feelings. Sheesh. Sess still has a stick up his @$$ about it, though (more like a 4 x 4, but what did we really expect from His Royal Uptightness?). Then again, I'm the author here, so *rubs hands together gleefully* I get to screw with Sess's inhibitions! Yay!

I was supposed to have a dialogue with Sess, but he is in his trailer pouting. Said he won't come out until after he has slaughtered something. Guess he doesn't want to be put in jail for serial killing...imagine all the trouble he would have, him being as beautiful as he is. *snicker* Bad-boy bishies...what can ya do? So, Kagome was kind enough to say a few words before the review responses. Take it away, girl.

Kagome: Well...all I wanted to say was...*kicks toe in dirt, looks embarrassed* ahem...all I wanted to say was...

TT: *rolls eyes* Spit it out, girl! Where's your backbone?!

Kagome: *scratches head* Well, thank you all for the support and encouragement...with-with Sesshoumaru, y'know...I mean, I love Inuyasha but...*sighs dreamily* something about older brothers...

TT: *pushes Kagome offset* Yeah, yeah. If that's all you've got to say, then save it. We've heard it all before (coming from our own lips). Go find Sess and practice your next scene before you lose all that hot-and-bothered energy.

Kagome: *claps hands together and dashes off with big smile*

TT: God, I thought she'd gained some self-respect. Oh, well. At least this will torment Sess some more! *grins evilly, then smile fades* But I wish I was the one running the scene with him. *pouts, then perks up* But I could be her body double! Yeah! Ooh, the possibilities! And if that wasn't enough of a hint on upcoming events, you need help!

FF.net Reviews

Vampireluv, kasey, ChibiBakaKitsune, Dark Topaz, Nymph Demon, and Mistress Fluffy, thanks for all the support! I love those words of praise!

Unknown: Thank you so much for the compliment on my style. I know I can get wordy. I am working on more dialogue, so I hope you approve! Trying to strike a balance here, not as easy as I thought. Let me know what you think in upcoming chappies, okay?

VicFan: Well, if I tell you, why would you read it? LOL Let's just say, I've got plans for the puppy...BWAHAHAHA!

Flambeau-Willow: *sniffs, wipes eye* Thank you for the praise! I'm touched!

Ranmagirl7: *bows humbly* Doumo arigatou gozaimasu! That first chapter has been festering in my brain-I've even thought about trying to revamp the first few chapters. Yikes! But, I decided to wait on that, as I seem to have quite a few lovely, lovely readers (like you!) who are able to follow my Mexican jumping bean plot. *whispers* I'm kinda proud of the dream sequence, myself. *cringes at immodesty, then shrugs* Otherwise I wouldn't have posted it!

The Fallen Angel of Death: *ducks and covers head* No! I promise I'll update as quickly as possible! No scythes, reapers, blades, spoons, etc.! I'll tell you the same thing I told Sess: You kill me, I can't write any more of the story! But, thanks for the (sadistic) love! My first death threat! LOL (Is it wrong to revel in that?)

Youkai Yume: Yes, I get antsy if I don't have Sess involved in the story for too long...something about sexual frustration... Not that he'd help me out there, but I'm working on it! LOL

kidoairaku: Wai! Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I'm the highlight of your day? *sighs in bliss, bows humbly* This unworthy one does not deserve such unmitigated praise. (Hey! When did Kenshin get in here?) Keep up your fics-I'm transfixed!

Soudesuka-Shurikens: Ha! "Masochism" indeed-that fits Miroku to a Tee! If Sango has a boomerang fetish (surely a size issue of some sort), then I hope our favorite playboy monk can measure up! Let's see...next would be Shippou. Hmmm. Definite `mother complex'. And Naraku! What's with all those detachments? And the absorbing youkai thing? And the necrophilia? And the...ahhh, the list is endless! A shrink would have a hey day with him! LOL

SesshouMaru's Lover: *bows in humble gratitude* Thank you so much! If you think my writing's decent, you should check out writers like kidoairaku, profiler120, Sailor Panda, Quick Silver...too many to name. Oh! Volpa! "This Mess We're In" is awesome! She needs to update faster, though! Thanks again!

Godless infidel: Here's your update! And, you won't have to wait that long for `The Meeting'. I've got plans for our favorite bishie brothers! BWAHAHAHA! Ahem. Sorry about the evil laugh thing. Anyway...I'm on your favorites list? *dances in joy* Thank you! *hugs* I'll try not to disappoint!

Aki no Yume1: Poor Jaken! Ah, the life of a freakishly devoted servant. *sigh* If only Sess would deal with his emotional baggage, life would be so much better for him, ne? And about Inu finding out about Tessaiga...can you just imagine the freak-out? LOL Then again, maybe I won't let him find out until the last minute...hmmm...to be evil, or not to be evil? LOL

MM.org Reviews

Lady Sesshoumaru: *gasp* Love? LOVE?! Why, the very idea that the tall, godly, noble dog-man would so much as feel...well, anything at all! *snickers* Yeah, right. Not if I have anything to say about it! (And, much to Sess's dismay/anger/fury, I DO! It's in his contract, baby!)