Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Suffering and Rebirth	By : scattered-dimensions Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 8846 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters. This is for fun not monetary gain.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
“And here is Souta and Kagome dressed in traditional garb for the Lantern Festival. She was ten and Souta was five. We used to go every year, but when Kagome started her travels with InuYasha, it just didn’t feel quite right without her.” Akira explained pointing to a photograph in a book.
He looked at the image of a small Kagome smiling widely with her arm wrapped around her younger brother’s shoulders. She was missing a tooth in the front and it reminded him of Rin. He brushed the thought away.
“This is Kagome and Souta when they got their first bicycles. Kagome learned to ride hers right off the bat, but poor Souta had to keep his training wheels on until he was seven.”
Sesshomaru didn’t know what training wheels were, but he had seen the Miko riding a bicycle in the beginning of his hunt for Naraku. Akira flipped the page.
“In this one, Kagome and Souta are playing in the pool we used to have in our backyard. There was a hole in it and no matter how many times I patched it up, it wouldn’t hold water. We had to get rid of it. They were so sad.”
Kagome was older in this photograph with her hair twisted up on her head showing a lot of skin. She was holding a multicolored ball and Souta was jumping off a ladder into the water. Sesshomaru averted his eyes. It was an inappropriate image to have of a young lady and he was not about to compromise Kagome’s dignity. She had given him the same respect after all.
“This is Kagome on her graduation day. We were so proud of her. She worked so hard.”
Sesshomaru’s brow furrowed. He knew what the word meant, but was at a loss when it came to the term being used for an event and the image showed no clues towards an explanation. Akira noticed his confusion.
“Graduation is when a child completes their education. I understand in your time that only children from a wealthy family were educated. That’s not the case here. It’s mandatory that every single child regardless of social standing is given an opportunity to learn.” She explained helpfully and turned the page.
Kagome’s mother had been most helpful since Kagome left him at the doorstep in favor of hiding in her own bed chambers. Akira set about explaining every item of interest in their home and had told him a little about the sights he had seen going through town. He didn’t understand half of it, but was pleased that she had taken time to help familiarize him with this strange world…unlike her daughter.
Souta had tried to get him to watch tv after the evening meal, but Akira interjected with a stack of photo albums. She explained anything he seemed confused about and it was a relief that he didn’t have to degrade himself to ask for clarification on every little peculiar thing. She was very intuitive and her company was not as repugnant as he expected.
“This is Kagome with her father. Souta hadn’t been born yet.”
He heard the sorrow in the woman’s voice and took a long look at the man in the shiny portrait. Kagome was perched on his shoulders, no more than four, with her hands sunk into her father’s hair. They both wore huge smiles. Kagome looked like she was laughing. It was this man that Kagome took after. This was the source of her blue eyes.
He heard footsteps on the stairs, but ignored them in favor of the next photo. It was Kagome with InuYasha. They were sitting at the kitchen table, InuYasha had his arm draped around Kagome’s shoulders smiling and her face was stained with a blush. The album shut at the hands of Akira and the woman stood.
“Kagome, how are you feeling? Souta said you were sick.” Akira asked concerned.
“I’m okay now. I guess I didn’t get enough sleep.” Kagome said locking her eyes on his.
He felt that odd rhythm in his chest again and scowled.
“Mom, can we have a minute?” Kagome asked turning her attention back to the woman in front of her.
“Sure, honey. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. It was good talking with you, Sesshomaru-sama.” Akira said to him with a bow.
Kagome watched her mother go with wide eyes. It almost made Sesshomaru smile…almost. In actuality, he hadn’t said more than two words throughout the entire evening, but she didn’t know that. Kagome looked back at him and shook her head. She sat a considerable distance away from him on the couch staring out the window set on the opposite wall.
He studied her while he waited for her to compose her thoughts. Kagome had bathed. Her hair was still wet and her clothes had been changed. He still thought her attire to be indecent considering the amount of leg she was showing, but her mother had said it to be perfectly acceptable in this time.
She was every ounce the girl that he saw in the photos and then some. It was amazing how much her mother had captured of this girl’s personality. She had grown considerably, of course, and that is what interested him.
Would this be what he would have to look forward to with Rin? His ward was already changing. It seemed like every time he turned around she had grown another inch, her hair had gotten longer, or her face was losing its chubbiness. The changes didn’t sit well with him. It was happening too fast.
Kagome adjusted the white knee length stockings on her legs and flexed her toes in the plush rug at their feet clearing her throat at the same time. Her eyes were fixated on the night sky outside the window when she spoke.
“I want to apologize for my rudeness earlier. I should have explained things in town and I shouldn’t have run off like that when we got here. It won’t happen again.” She said quietly and he could hear the sincerity in her words.
“Hn.” Was all he gave her and she sighed.
He was upset with her. She had disrespected him in the hospital and again when they arrived at her home. He had hoped that Kagome would explain her world, but her mother had done it in her stead. Kagome’s actions were erratic and insulting. He owed her a debt and that was the only thing that kept him from picking her up by her slender throat and tossing her halfway across the room.
“I suppose I need to make sleeping arrangements for you. I thought you could take my room. I’ve changed the sheets and blankets on the bed. I’ll take the couch. I doubt you’d find it very comfortable anyway.” She said rising to her feet.
Sesshomaru followed her up the stairs and through a door at the end of the hall. The room was small with a window by the bed. He now knew what the lamp was on the table by the bedside and was pleased to see that her bed was the same western style he was accustomed to, if not a little small. There was a desk directly across the room from the bed and the other wall held a set of doors. His eyes widened by a small fraction.
“I scrubbed them out in the sink during dinner. I tried to get all the blood off of them. They’re still a little wet, but they should be wearable in the morning. I’ll leave you to get comfortable.” Kagome said exiting the room shutting the door behind her.
Sesshomaru walked up to the hanging garments and ran his fingers over the damp silk of his haori. He picked up a sleeve and inspected it for stains. He was surprised to not find any. She must have really worked hard to get the dried fluid out of the material. He looked down to find his armor glistening in the artificial lighting of the room and his swords propped up against the doorframe beside it. She had polished them as well.
He felt a twinge of gratitude sink into his being and turned towards the bed. He pulled the covers down and looked about for the light switch that Akira had taught him about. He found it beside the door and flicked it off washing the room in moonlight. He disrobed quickly, folding each borrowed garment and placed them on the bedside table.
He crawled into bed wrapped in the comfort of his pelt and buried his nose in the pillow. It smelled like her. His last thought of consciousness was of Kagome’s blushing face in the photo.

“So, my grandfather gave her his youki? How would something like that even be possible without her becoming a half demon?” InuYasha asked astounded.
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s a part of some ability Lord Masahiro had.” Miroku offered.
“I know.” A small voice said from the corner behind the group.
Everyone turned expectant eyes on Rin. She sat up straighter and cleared her throat, but before she could speak Jaken stood up.
“What do you know, girl? We’re not going to rest Lord Sesshomaru’s return on some childish imagining.” He chastised.
Rin’s shoulders fell and so did Jaken, face first into the wooden floor with InuYasha’s fist buried in the back of his head.
“Go ahead, Rin. We’re all ears.” The hanyou said with a nod and she smiled.
“If the demon is really powerful, they can transfer their youki into another being that is also powerful, but it usually takes many years off of their expected lifespan and weakens them for a long period of time. It’s rarely ever done and I’ve never read about the joining happening with a priestess or any mortal for that matter. In this case, Lord Masahiro was dying and gave the last bit of his power to Noriko earning her respect among the Western Lands.” She explained.
“Wow, Rin. Where did you learn all of that?” Sango asked astonished at the girl’s knowledge.
“Lord Sesshomaru lets me read in his study while he does his paperwork.” The girl replied beaming brightly.
“Only because you annoy him with your constant chatter.” Jaken huffed after wiggling free from InuYasha.
“It appears that Noriko wasn’t always this sinister. She did have good intentions in the beginning. There’s nothing but praise in this scroll. Her accomplishments were more profound then I had imagined. It says here that she successfully negotiated sixty-four treaties within the Western Lands and forty-one outside of the Western borders.” Miroku said looking over the parchment again.
“What does it say about the time that my old man ruled?” InuYasha asked.
“Hmm, not much. There’s only one village that still held true to their alliance with the West after the war with the North was over. The battles pretty much scared off most humans. There were a lot of lives lost on both sides. It says she stayed on as Lord InuTaishio’s personal advisor, but there’s no further information after that. It just ends.” Miroku replied with a furrowed brow.
“Shit.” InuYasha cursed and shoved his hands into his sleeves, Tetsusaiga resting against his shoulder.
“There’s more about the transference of power I just remembered.” Rin piped up. “There’s usually a mark placed on the recipient, a scar or something like that. Since Noriko is human, it should be fairly visible.”
“Tell me this, kid. How come she’s not a half-demon? I mean he did give her an unnaturally long life.” InuYasha asked musingly.
“Lord Masahiro didn’t transfer his soul to her just the remainder of his youki. She remained human with extra abilities.” Rin answered happy with the attention.
“Right. Looks like I’m going to see the old tree after all. First thing’s first. Rin, this mark thing, you know what to look for?” InuYasha asked and Rin nodded. “Good. Come with me.”
InuYasha stood and slipped Tetsusaiga into place at his side. He held the covering open for Rin, but before they could leave Jaken stood up with a look of pure indignation on his face.
“You’re not taking Rin anywhere without me, you dirty half-breed.” The toad squawked running for the door.
InuYasha narrowed his eyes at the kappa.
“Shippo.” He said evenly and the kit sprung from his spot tackling Jaken to the ground.
InuYasha slipped out smiling at the ruckus coming from inside the hut.
“Let me…Stop…”
“I’ll show you dirty half-breed!”
THUNK! THWACK!
“Owww…”

InuYasha knocked on Kaede’s doorframe respectfully keeping himself between the door and Rin. He heard a cough from inside and shuffling. The scent of Rin’s nervousness permeated the air around him.
“Don’t worry about a thing, kid. The wench tries anything, she’s toast.” He said over his shoulder.
The covering was pulled back revealing Kaede wrapped in a shawl wearing her sleeping yukata. InuYasha missed the blush on Rin’s cheeks and the small smile she gave in response to his words.
“Come in out of the cold.” Kaede said waving them inside. “What brings ye both to visit in the middle of the night?”
“We need to look at the wench.” InuYasha explained gruffly.
Kaede’s eye widened and she looked to Rin for conformation.
“Jaken brought a scroll from the Western archives telling about how Noriko gained so much power. Lord Masahiro transferred his youki to her as a gift. We need to find the mark it left behind.” The girl explained further keeping her voice low.
“I see and where would this mark be?” Kaede asked looking back to InuYasha.
“I’m not sure.” Rin answered lowering her head.
“Well, InuYasha, if you’ll give us some privacy…” Kaede started, but he cut her off.
“Keh, not happening. I don’t like you being around her unguarded, you stubborn old hag, much less Rin. I’m stayin’ put.” He said forcefully and Kaede shook her head.
“As ye wish. I’ll hold up a blanket for her modesty. Ye will have to undo her dressings, child.” Kaede said grabbing a spare blanket from her supply shelf.
The entire process took what seemed like hours to the impatient hanyou, but when happiness flooded Rin’s scent, he felt the anticipation shoot through the roof. He was nearly bouncing on his heels when she walked around the elder Miko.
“Well?” He asked feeling like he would explode.
“I found a mark. It’s on her left wrist.” The girl said with a smile.
InuYasha wanted to hug her. This was the first breakthrough since Kagome went missing.
“That’s not all. There were three more marks, two on her right arm and one on her left shoulder.” Rin continued.
“What does that mean?” InuYasha asked feeling his insides churn from the plummet back to reality.
“It means that she had not just taken the power of Lord Masahiro, but of three others.” Kaede said rejoining the group.
“Do you know who they were?” InuYasha asked knowing it was a long shot.
“Foolish mutt. That girl doesn’t know. The ones who fueled my power are dead and they were so far from home.” Noriko cackled menacingly.
InuYasha’s head snapped in the dark Miko’s direction and his knuckles cracked in warning.
“Oi, wench, shut your hole. No one asked you.” He growled.
“You should have seen the look on Sesshomaru’s face when my power hit him…priceless.” Noriko hissed back.
InuYasha’s traitorous mind replayed the screams of pain from Kagome and his brother. He took a purposeful step towards the futon, his lip curling up over his fangs, and a low growl rumbling from his chest.
“No, InuYasha. You cannot. It is what she wants.” Kaede pleaded with no affect.
The scent of Rin’s tears stopped him dead in his tracks. His hands fell to his sides and his growling ceased immediately.
“Whatever. She not worth my damn time anyway. Let’s go, kid. I’m sending Kirara up here. She’s going to be with you at all times, Kaede.” InuYasha said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Rin wiped her face and waved her goodbyes following InuYasha out of the hut. He waited for her to catch up and they walked back to Sango and Miroku’s in silence.
They entered finding Jaken gagged and trussed in the corner of the main room with Shippo standing guard, his chest puffed out and his arms crossed looking pretty proud of himself.
“Oh, Master Jaken. You really shouldn’t call people names. It’s not nice.” Rin admonished coming to the kappa’s rescue.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Sango asked rocking Kaori while the tiny baby yawned sleepily. Apparently the tussle had awoken her.
“She had four marks.” Rin answered in his stead.
“Four? Does that mean she…” Sango trailed off her eyes wide.
Rin nodded in affirmation as she untied the last knot in the ropes wrapped around Jaken.
“That’s it! You’re going back to the West! Lord Sesshomaru would have my head if you were harmed in this wild goose chase!” Jaken fussed the moment his gag fell away.
He grabbed Rin’s sleeve and his staff pulling her towards the door.
“But Master Jaken…” Rin protested.
“No buts, Rin. We’re leaving.” He asserted ignoring her appeal.
InuYasha stomped forward and jerked the toad up by the front of his robes.
“If she wants to stay, she stays.” InuYasha snarled.
There was a collective gasp from everyone present at the surprising display of protectiveness. Jaken gulped then mustered his courage.
“Then so am I.” He squeaked.
InuYasha dropped him and mumbled something under his breath about sending Kirara to Kaede’s. He could feel everyone’s eyes on his back as he left. He made it halfway to his hut before he heard the sound of running feet behind him. He stopped and turned watching Rin gain on him.
“Thank you, InuYasha.” She said with a genuine smile when she reached him.
“Toad’s got a mouth on him. I don’t like it.” He replied turning away.
“True, but he means well.” Rin said.
“Wait for me!” Shippo yelled from behind them.
He jumped up on InuYasha’s shoulder and the trio continued on towards the hut they shared for the time being.
“Good job in there, Shippo.” InuYasha said remembering Jaken’s yells from earlier.
“Nobody talks about you but me.” Shippo said smugly.
“Hey, ya runt!” InuYasha exclaimed balling up his fist.
Rin giggled.

A/N: Thank you Luminari_Lilium for your review. My kids said thank you as well. They thought it was so cool someone on the internet congratulated them on their accomplishments. ^_^
As always I appreciate all the readers and voters. I’ll be posting more soon.
~scattered-dimensions~
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Suffering and Rebirth