Devotion and Sacrifice
By Danyealle
(fanfiction/angst)
Chapter 3
Later that night, after the rest of the people in the house were asleep, he was sitting in her bedroom, on the bed, watching TV with her. It had been a busy night for them, as would be expected, yet sleep wasn’t going to come easily to either one.
After their talk they had gone to the house and she had begun to prepare to leave. While she was sitting at the kitchen table going over a list of things she would need he was up using what she called the ‘shower’. It was an experience he found quite enjoyable and felt great.
Later, after they ate supper, her mother had indeed extracted the assurance from him that he would do everything within his power to ensure her safety. She understood that what they did could be, and was often, dangerous as well as the fact that she would be injured no matter what steps were put into place but she felt better knowing that someone was watching out for her. On his end he explained briefly how he viewed a ‘pack’ and the role of the alpha male then gave her his word of honor that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the miko was protected. That protection included any time she was with him, even when home. Of course, like it would most people, that reassured the older woman.
When bedtime rolled around no one voiced any objection when Sesshomaru insisted on staying in her room. That had been a common practice for Inuyasha so they thought nothing of the demon lord doing the same thing. Knowing the taiyoukai didn’t sleep like humans did, Kagome showed him how to work the TV remote and gave a brief explanation of different kinds of programs then let him have at it while she tried to sleep, knowing full well she probably wasn’t going to get much.
As she thought, she tossed and turned for a long time but sleep wasn’t coming. When the movie he had been engrossed in ended, she sat up and leaned against the wall, “Can I ask you a question Sesshomaru?”
“Of course.” He replied, muting the sound then settling back, looking at her.
Glancing at the foot of the bed were tetsusaiga rested, she queried, “Why would Inuyasha want me to have tetsusaiga? How is it supposed to protect me? I don’t have the power to wield it.” That had been a question she had wondered about since Miroku had told her Inuyasha had wanted her to have his fathers’ fang. His fire rate she understood but not the sword.
Leaning back against the headboard, he looked at her. “I’m sure that you remember it was you that was able to pull it from its’ resting place when both I and Inuyasha failed, correct?”
“Of course I remember. I also remember you trying to kill me!” She said, sticking her tongue out at him playfully.
“Indeed.” He replied, smirking. “But I couldn’t kill you because the barrier around it protected you. It will do the same thing now, to an extent anyway. Though it won’t protect you fully it will offer some.” He explained.
“OK, that makes sense.” She said, nodding. “Will I ever be able to actually use it or will it just be a fashion accessory I carry around?”
He was quiet for a moment, thinking, then answered, “Maybe. That’s something I’m not completely sure about but I suspect you may be able to master the Windscar.
“Again, because it’s you that pulled it and chose to give it to Inuyasha to champion you that may be possible. Then, when it was broken, it was Inuyashas’ fang that was used to repair it. Because he chose to bequeath it to you it may enable you to at least master that one strike. Your miko powers should be enough to allow you to see what you need to. But I do doubt that you will ever be able to master some of the other attacks like the Backlash Wave. In your case, the Windscar should be more than enough and you probably wouldn’t need the others.” He explained.
With a far away look in her eyes, she nodded. “That makes sense I guess. Thanks.” Then she looked at him again, “How will I learn? I don’t know anything about that stuff or even how to properly hold a sword. I’ve never done it before.”
“I’ll teach you.” He said simply. Knowing the first thought that would naturally pop in her head he smirked again, “No, I don’t wish to take it from you. I understand the reason it was left to you and will respect that.”
“Thanks. I was just curious.” She told him, lying back down.
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The next morning in Edo there was quite a bit of nervous anticipation. Because Sesshomaru didn’t return the day before everyone assumed the he had been able to get through the well and return with Kagome, at least that’s what they hoped.
About noon everyone was gathered at Kaedes’ hut, nervous tension evident as they paced or talked. Suddenly all the youkai in the pack stopped cold and looked towards the edge of the village, grinning. A couple minutes later Shippo screamed, “Kagome!” at the top of his lungs and took off running as fast as his little legs would carry him.
A few minutes later Sesshomaru and Kagome, with Shippo attached to her chest, came into view. Yes, the little miko looked a bit different, she was thinner and her signature short, green skirt was gone-replaced with jeans and tetsusaiga was thrust into the belt and wearing Inuyashas’ fire rat, but it was most certainly her and she had come back to them finally.
After enthusiastic greetings and the hugs were dispensed, preparations for leaving were started. While everyone was getting ready to move out Sesshomaru pulled Kouga aside to talk to him like he had assured Kagome he would.
Kouga, knowing how she must be feeling still, readily agreed. Showing a maturity that Inuyasha never saw from him, Kouga said he would drop any claim he had on her and would settle for being something like her big brother. If she wanted something more that was fine. If she didn’t, that was fine too.
Needless to say, Sesshomaru was both impressed and pleased. Kouga would be as fierce of a protector as he was for her and without the proclamations of love it would make it easier on Kagome.
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Because they left Edo late, it was mid-afternoon before they could finally get on their way, they didn’t make much progress that day but from Kagomes’ point of view it had been an educational experience.
Traveling with Sesshomaru was very different than traveling with Inuyasha. She was used to Inuyashas’ impulsiveness and him rushing into situations. Sesshomaru was more cautious. They also didn’t encounter as many low-level youkai as they had in the past. The taiyoukai’s powerful aura warned minor demons away. Even the temptation of Kagomes’ jewel shards didn’t seem to be worth their trouble or override their wariness of Sesshomaru.
Though one wouldn’t have thought it, Sesshomaru was also a lot more aware of the limitations of his human pack members than Inuyasha had been. They took more breaks and he made sure that they stopped for meals. He also seemed to be aware that Kagomes’ stamina wasn’t what it used to be after so many months of being away. It seemed that he could sense when she was tired before she felt it. Then they either stopped for a while or Kouga would carry her on his back. That was most certainly a far cry from Inuyasha’s rants about weak humans and the way he sometimes pushed them like a slave driver. Sango, Miroku and Shippo seemed a lot more relaxed with Sesshomaru as a leader than they did with Inuyasha at times. Even a lot of the same good-natured banter went on between the humans and wolf demons that had gone on in the past with the pack though the stoic demon lord didn’t participate. Although Kagome could have sworn that she saw him smirk a few times at some of the funnier moments. Even Shippo, who Kagome would admit could be a handful at times, seemed to behave better.
On the other hand, Sesshomaru was a lot stricter about some things. Because of the promise he made to her mother, he made her stick close to him at all times. Even when she needed to take a bathroom break, he stayed close, though out of earshot-hers anyway.
Though he didn’t take part in the good natured banter among the pack he would talk quietly to her. He would ether explain something or any questions she have had. Honestly, the mere fact that the Western Lord would engage her in kind of conversation made her feel special. He most certainly wasn’t known for his conversational skill but here he was, talking to her more than he probably had talked to most people in years.
By the time they made cap that night, well after dark, she had noticed something else odd as well, though she hadn’t mentioned it to anyone for fear they would think she was losing her mind. From the time she had slipped tetsusaiga through her belt at home she had felt a wave of comfort and calm pass over her. It was almost as though it sensed her sadness and distress and was trying to comfort her. After they began to travel when she would think about Inuyasha and become emotional or upset a wave of calm would surround her. There were also time she would swear she felt a very familiar hand on her shoulder or an arm wrap around her to give her a bit of courage.
At first she chalked it up to her mind playing tricks on her. After all, it had been Inuyashas’ sword, it stood to reason that she would think about him while wearing it. But as the day wore on and it happened more she seriously began to think it wasn’t just her imagination because she could now smell tiny whiffs of smell that was uniquely Inuyasha.
Even more odd was she was getting the sense that Sesshomaru was picking up something as well. She saw him act as though he had senses another presence near when she would feel those touches. Then she could hear him sniffing and would glance around when she began to catch his smell.
Later that night, when everyone was bedding down for the night, again Sesshomaru showed his different leadership style by insisting she sleep nest to him, it happened again. Curled up in her sleeping bag with an arm draped over the katana, she was drifting off when she felt a body curl up to her back, wrapping it’s arms around her, and Inuyashas’ familiar smell once again made its’ self known. Instantly, she was wide awake. Any thoughts that it was just a dream quickly evaporated because even awake that feel and smell was still there. A bit frightened, she began to shake a bit but a soft male voice, quiet as a winds whisper, told her everything was OK and to relax. When it said that she was safe and he would protect her, she would have sworn in a court of law it was Inuyasha. But it had worked. Within minutes she was calm and once more drifting away, feeling safe.
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As the little miko had thought, Sesshomaru too had felt and smelled something odd. Several times that day he was positive he had either felt his half-brothers’ aura or detected his signature smell. Unlike Kagome, he didn’t chalk it up to a trick of the mind. His senses were too finely turned and refined for that. Add to it the fact that he didn’t have the emotional attachment the miko did and that ruled that out. But what it was he couldn’t figure out. However, he did notice the miko glance at him, wide-eyed, when he was picking them up, telling him that she was sensing it as well.
After she had bedded down he sensed it again. This time he saw, when he glanced down at the onna who was almost bug-eyed and radiating a slight aura of fear, what he perceived to be a faint indent of a body on the grass next to her. The presence was once again there as well but this time it radiated a sense of calm and protection. Yes, it puzzled him but he decided to wait and see if it continued before he would try to deduce what it was.