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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
- 17
- 18
- 19
He had watched Kagome approach from the shadows and at first her very presence annoyed him. Would the meddlesome girl ever learn?
She brazenly attacked the man with the powder gun and then was efficiently captured by him while she cowered in fear. Sesshomaru felt the entire event to be so very predictable. How stupid could she be, truly?
But when the bastard sniffed her, he felt something inside him rattle a cage and a strange possessiveness emerged from the prison angry and lethal.
The words flowed from his lips effortlessly and he watched the man lower the gun. Kagome’s blue eyes widened in circumference, her pleading and fear evident as they glistened with unshed tears. His chest clenched oddly and the beast broke free.
He tore his head away from the burly man, feeling his hair rip from his scalp, but the pain of such a thing was lost on him. He brought his elbow up against the bridge of his former captor’s nose hearing it crack and sprinted forward, his claws at the ready.
The man with the gun barely had time to raise the firearm in his direction before Sesshomaru sank his claws into his forearm, lifting the gun to the sky a heartbeat before it went off. The man screeched and tossed Kagome to the side, immediately using his free hand as a battering ram, but Sesshomaru caught it well before the fist reached him, digging his claws into the flesh of the man’s tender wrist. The leader froze.
Sesshomaru watched as Kagome’s rolling form came to an abrupt stop against a wooden seat rooted into the ground. She cried out at the impact and curled into a ball, her petite body shaking. Sesshomaru averted his attention back to the ring leader and growled viciously in the man’s face pushing his claws even further into the arm with the gun until the weapon clattered uselessly on the ground.
He heard the clamoring footsteps of the other men running away behind him and risked a quick glance in the Miko’s direction. She was still there, rolled up and quivering. There was movement beside him and he snapped his head around meeting the fearful eyes of Haru who was trying to lift the unconscious Weasel from the ground. The leader’s head mimicked his own.
“Haru! Don’t just stand there, you freakin’ moron! Shoot him!” The leader yelled, his voice shaking in fear.
Sesshomaru glared at the coward daring him to follow that order, but he just shook his head in haste and began dragging Weasel away by his arms. Sesshomaru turned his face back to the man in his grasp.
“L-Look man. I was j-just playin’, ya know…about the whole freak thing…”
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and sneered.
“I’m an idiot. Mama always said I was a dummy…”
Sesshomaru continued to glare at the self-proclaimed bumbling fool, not one to argue the point.
“I wasn’t goin’ to hurt your woman, just, ya know, teach her a lesson…”
That was the end of Sesshomaru’s patience.
He snarled and removed his hand from the man’s arms allowing the undeniably stupid human the illusion of escape. Sesshomaru walked over to the abandoned set of chains lying harmlessly on the ground and picked them up testing the weight in his palm. He nodded in approval and looked up to the retreating man. The imbecile faltered in his steps and turned around dashing for the gun just as Sesshomaru knew he would. He didn’t reach his mark.
Sesshomaru flicked his wrist and the chain came to life spearing the air heading directly for its target. The thick links encircled the brigand’s neck with ease. Sesshomaru popped his wrist back in age old precision pulling the man backwards, his hands clawing at the metal and gasping for air. Sesshomaru dragged the idiot closer until he was able to press his boot into the man’s heaving chest drawing his attention and further restricting his air flow.
“You will leave this place without your weapon. If you return, I will kill you.” Sesshomaru promised his voice icy causing the man to shiver.
He dropped the chain with a loud clang on the ground and the man ran away, not stopping for his gun. He continued going until he was well out of sight the metal noose trailing after him.
There was a small whimper from behind him and he turned to see Kagome trying to sit up. He walked over to her and debated whether or not he should actually assist her. It seemed he’d done enough of that this night.
She ignored him, pulling her knees under her with her palms resting on the ground, her entire body shaking like a leaf in the wind. He couldn’t see her face, but a soft sniffle told him that she was crying. He rolled his eyes.
“This Sesshomaru did not need your assistance.” He told her trying to emphasize a point he’d made days ago.
“You never do.” She replied quietly, her voice trembling in tune with her person.
She pushed off of her hands and rose to her feet. Her movements were awkward and seemingly uncomfortable. Her back remained stiff and she didn’t move her arms, not even to remove the strands of hair sticking to her face. Her eyes darted around and she brushed past him heading for the gun. She bent at an odd angle and picked up the weapon with her thumb and forefinger. Her blunt teeth were biting into her bottom lip as she walked back to him offering the object like it was a smelly piece of garbage.
“You carry it.” She said and he just looked at her.
“We can’t leave this here for some kid to find. It’s dangerous and I don’t like guns. We’ll dump it later.” She explained with a roll of her eyes.
The tremors wracking her frame hadn’t subsided though her voice was now clear from any inflections. She was frightened. It was plain as day and for some reason it didn’t sit well with him.
“I have no use for such things, Miko. It is yours.” He said and walked away.
She craned her neck to look at him as he passed still holding the gun away from her. He heard her huff and could just imagine her annoyed facial expression. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes going wide at the thought. Why would he imagine her in any way?
The Miko took his pause as an invitation to catch up and he shoved his disturbing thoughts away quickly. Her gate was uneven suggesting a limp. She had been tossed a considerable distance. He didn’t ask and she didn’t offer when she reached him. He looked to her from the corner of his eyes, but her short stature prevented him from seeing her face. She didn’t turn to him when she spoke.
“Thank you for saving me.” She murmured quietly and he felt his pulse begin to gallop.
“Hn.
He began to walk back towards the Shrine remembering his way easily and battling a very alarming surge in his bestial instincts which was simply horrid. She wasn’t someone he wanted to protect nor did she need such a thing at the moment. She had a protector. Granted the hanyou was 500 years in the past...
Sesshomaru growled mentally and began a very basic reasoning process for the insistent feelings welling up inside of him.
He was honor bound to protect her earlier because of his debt and because she was his half-brother’s mate. Considering the lovers’ current separation, it was only customary that he take on the responsibility of her temporary protection just as InuYasha had better be doing for Rin. His protective instincts shifted focus with the mental conjuring of his ward and surprisingly the sensation did not lessen nor did it increase. It was the same.
He cut his eyes at the limping girl beside him and frowned. He watched her pause next to a multi-colored blanket and bundle it into her arms. The strain in her posture was very evident and it made him slightly curious. Surely, she couldn’t have been that injured? His instincts shifted its maddening focus once again and he had the sudden inconceivable urge to comfort her. His frown deepened and he walked away.
“Please, Sesshomaru, don’t leave me behind. I can’t keep up.” She pleaded and he felt his heart pound spastically.
He paused allowing her to catch up. The remainder of the walk to her home was spent in mental and physical silence. Kagome had given him wet tissues to clean the blood off of himself and she had wiped the tears from her face. Sesshomaru was relieved that there were no cars on the streets this late and was even more thankful when they entered the front door of the darkened home. There was a light spilling out from the kitchen and Akira rushed into the foyer to greet them, her arms going around Kagome instantly.
“Oh, honey, I was so worried.” She cried into her daughter’s hair.
Sesshomaru’s brow furrowed at the tenseness in the Miko’s shoulders. Normally, she was most welcoming of her mother’s affections.
“I’m fine. Look who I found.” Kagome said the smile in her tone sounding forced.
The woman regarded her daughter curiously for a moment before turning her chestnut eyes on him. She walked up to him and grabbed his hand unabashedly, squeezing it and patting the top with a smile. For some reason he was glad that he had wiped his hands clean.
“You’re fine as well?” She asked hopefully and Sesshomaru gave her a nod of his head.
“Good, good. I’m sure you both are hungry. I saved a couple of plates. They’re in the oven and I made desert, too. Baked at least five dozen cookies. Oh, and a pie from scratch. Is it really cold out? Your hand is like ice, Sesshomaru-sama. Good thing you brought that blanket, Kagome.”
Akira sounded close to tears as she rambled pulling Sesshomaru into the kitchen. She let go of his hand and pulled out a chair from the kitchen table then another beside it. Her hands landed on his shoulders and she guided him to sit.
“I sent Souta after you with my cellphone, but you left so fast and he didn’t know which way you went…” Akira continued pushing Kagome gently into the seat next him.
Sesshomaru saw Kagome’s face contort in pain, but when her mother rounded the table, the girl’s face went lax. She remained silent while Akira busied herself at the stove.
“Before I knew it, it had gotten so late. Dad spent the better part of the evening praying for your safe return and here you both are, safe and sound. I had to send Souta to bed. He didn’t want to go, but…Would you two like some tea? I’m out of our usual blend, but I think I have jasmine.”
Akira boiled the water quickly and placed two cups on the table in front of them.
“Where are my manners? Sesshomaru-sama, do you take sugar or cream with your tea?” She asked pleasantly her tone a little off.
“No.” He said and the woman’s face drooped as her eyes began to sparkle with tears.
She served the tea sniffling for a moment before her lips turned into a ghost of a smile. He could feel Kagome’s eyes boring holes into the side of his head, but ignored it.
“It’s always terrible for a parent when their child runs off, but Kagome’s not a little girl any more. She’s been traveling through the well since she was fifteen. I know she can take care of herself, but this time is so different from yours. So many things could have happened. Not saying you can’t protect yourself, Sesshomaru-sama. You’re a Lord and a strong, strapping demon…”
Akira trailed off turning to the stove again to open the door to the oven and pulled out a metal tray topped with two strange shiny covered bowls. They looked to be made out of metal as well. She sniffled again.
“It takes someone with fortitude and skill to rule a land. Then I thought of the traffic and…I hadn’t explained to you about the stop lights and when to walk and when not to…And Kagome’s such a pretty girl and there are people who like to roam the streets at night…” Akira’s jumbled diatribe broke off with a sob.
Kagome slid out of her seat and went to comfort her mother while Sesshomaru reeled from the woman’s words. She had been worried about them both. Her concern for her daughter was understandable and had proven to be quite valid, but him? She had even acknowledged him as the true Taiyoukai he should be, not as the weakened form he was in now. It was…baffling.
“Everything’s okay now, Mom. We’re both okay and nothing bad happened. Why don’t I take over from here? You go on up to bed and get some rest.” Kagome cooed rubbing her mother’s trembling back.
“Yes, I suppose I am a little tired.” Akira replied with a watery laugh.
She turned and wrapped her arms around her daughter hugging her tightly. Sesshomaru watched as Kagome bit her bottom lip and her eyes slammed shut with her brow furrowing in anguish. When Akira pulled away, Kagome’s face smoothed out instantly and her mouth broke into a smile.
“I love you, honey. You know that, right?” Akira asked sweetly pushing Kagome’s bangs behind her ears and tapping her chin.
“I love you too, Mom. Now, off to bed.” Kagome ushered softly.
Akira nodded and walked past the table, pausing at his side to pat his shoulder comfortingly.
“I’m so glad you both are home.” She said earnestly catching his eye and stunning him once again with the sincerity he found there.
Her hand fell away and she exited the room leaving them alone. Kagome remained at the counter with her hands braced against the rim, her knuckles turning white from the pressure, and her shoulders shaking in tiny tremors with her head bowed. She was still wearing her coat even though her home was warm and Sesshomaru heard no signs of crying.
He stood up walking around the table to stand beside the girl catching a glimpse of her pain stricken features before she noticed his presence and leveled them out.
“Thank you for not telling her what really happened.” Kagome said genuinely her head rising to look at him as she released the counter allowing her knuckles to return to their normal color.
“You are in pain, Miko.” He stated and her eyes flew wide.
“It’s nothing, re…”
He grabbed the top of her coat and began tugging it off of her shoulders not wishing to hear her silly protests. She hissed when her arms moved backwards and he stilled his hand looking down at the gap between to two articles of clothing. Her entire shirt was slick with blood. She shrugged away from him and put her hands up in a defensive motion.
“What are you doing?” She asked warily and Sesshomaru fought the urge to sigh.
What was he doing?
“You are injured.” He said his concern troubling them both.
“Yes, well that’s to be expected after the day I’ve had. Let’s talk about that first, shall we?” She said her arms dropping to her sides and her voice taking on a razor’s edge.
He narrowed his eyes in warning and she copied his actions perfectly.
“How about we start with the reason why you just took off?” she asked her tone sounding slightly dangerous.
“This Sesshomaru made it obvious, Miko.” He bit back.
“Really? Well, I’ve got a newsflash for you, buddy. Storming off in some broody fit then interrogating me on my friends is not an obvious explanation.” She ranted in a raised whisper.
“Your actions were unbecoming of an inu’s mate.” He said trying to reel in his temper for Akira’s sake alone.
“Inu’s mate…Forgive me for sounding a little like your despised half-brother, but…what the hell are you talking about?” Kagome hissed waving her hands about then wincing afterwards.
“You are mated to InuYasha, yes?” He asked as if she were stupid and her mouth dropped open in an unflattering fashion.
“You think me and InuYasha are…Kami, no. We’re friends…just friends… and I made a promise to stand by him always which is exactly what I’m going to do when we get back.” She explained quickly her voice returning to an amicable, almost sad tone.
It was Sesshomaru’s turn to be astounded. Though he made sure it didn’t show outwardly. He could tell she was being truthful, but he never expected her to say those words. He had been so sure the hanyou had mated the female the moment she returned.
InuYasha’s actions over the years had proven that he held a deep and determined love for the girl. She had always been loyal to the half-breed regardless of his mixed heritage, brusque mannerisms, or the affair he’d been having with the undead priestess. The connection had been blatantly obvious from the moment he encountered the duo riding on the shoulder of an ogre.
“If that was the only reason then can I assume you won’t go running off alone without at least telling me first?” Kagome asked closing the gap between them.
He just watched her fumble with the metal plates while he wrapped his mind around the last twist of the day. Kagome sighed and shook her head. She turned towards a set of drawers and bent to open it, but her movements seized causing her to half-stifle a groan.
He acted before thinking, placing his hand on her upper arm and urged her to stand up straight. She did so with questioning eyes and he just opened the cabinet where Akira kept the medical box trying not to overanalyze his actions.
“Sesshomaru, you don’t have to worry about that. I’ll just shower and get Mom to fix me up in the morning.” She said nervously.
He wanted to be angry at her for assuming that he was going to be the one to wrap her wounds, but that was precisely his intent and he could not formulate a logical explanation as to why. It held no benefit to him and his debt had been paid. He frowned down at the red cross on the white metal box confused by his own actions.
He decided not to ponder anything further this night. He had a multitude of stored information that needed to be sorted when he was able to think clearly, so he just allowed his instincts to guide him. They were practically screaming at him to stop her pain and he was going to acquiesce to their request just this once. His disconcertations could wait until later.

A/N: Thank you Luminari_Lilium & kittenchild for your reviews. You guys are the best.
Naturally my gratitude extends to the readers and voters as well. Hope everyone had a fun weekend.
~scattered-dimensions~
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Suffering and Rebirth