Kryptonite

By Danyealle

(fanfiction/MF/HC/Abuse)

Chapter 35

…Two Days Later…

After stopping for the night and starting supper the pack was playing a new card game that Kagome was teaching them.  Like things had been for the most part, other than the incident with Inuyasha, it had been a casual day with nothing really noteworthy happening.  They were about one day away from the fortress of Sesshomaru’s great uncle, where they would spend the night while he attended to what business he had.  Then, about a days travel from there, was the wolf den where they planned to spend a couple days.  So, none of them were planning for any kind of real stressful encounters.

Even on the topic of Inuyasha they were a bit less stressful than they had been.  For all of them there was a great deal more hope that he couldn’t slither and sneak around undetected like he had been able to do.  There was now real hope that he wasn’t going to be able to pull the stunts he had in the past and they would be able to detect him before he could attempt anything.

The only thing that had really changed since the incident with Inuyasha was their nightly routine when they made camp.  Now it was ensured that, until the monk had posted all the sutras, Kagome would stay on Ah-Un with at least one person staying in camp with her.  Luckily, that solution seemed to put the miko at ease and she didn’t once more withdrawal like she had after past encounters with the boy.  It was as though she knew the best solution was in place and it just needed a bit of fine tuning was all.  Plus, having the beads that concealed the boy off also seemed to help her a great deal.  He no longer had the ability to hide himself the way he did in the past.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

About 7:00 P.M., right after supper and Kagome and Sesshomaru’s nightly walk, as they had all just settled down for a few more hands of cards before bedtime, Daoe once more began to sound an alarm.

Knowing what it may well be from the frenzied reaction of the bird, Sesshomaru was on his feet with Kagome behind him, cling to him, sword drawn.  Immediately, the rest of the pack followed suit, tense and waiting.

A couple minutes after the alarm was raises the reason for it became apparent to all the youkai in the pack, making them snarl: Inuyasha was coming their direction.  Along with him there was a strong smell of graveyard soil, telling them that he was with Kikyo.  That set them on edge.  The way they saw it was that she was a wild card in the hand.  No one knew where she stood or may have come down on the issue.  Add to that she did have some kind of weird, warped sense of loyalty to the hanyou.  That alone was enough to set them more on edge. 

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

With a smug, self-satisfied smirk on his face, Inuyasha strode into his bastard half-brothers camp pressed tightly to Kikyo, his hand possessively on the small of her back.  Oh yes, he knew everyone sensed him coming, though he wasn’t really sure how, and were all on alert but didn’t care.  In fact, he wanted it that way.  He wanted every last one of them to see what he was about to do and Kagome’s reaction to it.  This was going to be great!

No, he wasn’t fully healed yet, his bones were still mending, but all visible signs of the beating he had taken were gone.  He was once more looking like his old self again.

Just before he got to the trees at the edge of the clearing the campsite was in he pressed tighter to Kikyo then stepped into the clearing where they were all waiting for him. 

Yes, as expected, everyone was on their feet, weapons on the ready, angry looks on their faces.  But he focused only on one of them, Kagome.  Well, what he could see of her anyway.  She was mostly hidden behind his asshole brother but was peeking out at him.  The look of fear in her eyes made his stomach clench in an unpleasant way.  But he pressed on.  If this all went as planned then when she was back with him he would prove to her that she would never have anything to fear from him again.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

Unable to contain his anger at the boy’s arrogant, blatant display, Sesshomaru snarled loudly.  “Inuyasha…  I suggest you and the dead one leave now before I continue what was done to you the other day.  I’m not as nice as they are.  It will be doubtful that you emerge from the encounter with all your body parts still attached.  Nor should you ever return to where we are.  You are not welcome here or anywhere near Kagome.  That point has been made abundantly clear by all and asunder at this point.”

“Very clear, by all of us!”  Kouga added, snarling, eyes flashing.

…ks…ks…ks…ks….

Though her normal serene look never changed, Kikyo watched the whole scene with avid interest.  Though the exchange was rather interesting, but not very informative, but the look on Kagome’s face and what she was feeling from her reincarnation was.

Yes, she did notice the large bruise that covered almost half her face, it was all but impossible to miss, but she also noticed the fear in her eyes and felt the rising panic in her aura when she looked at Inuyasha.  That was something she had never encountered before even when she had faced off against Naraku a few times.  Even more telling was that the fear was still there even though it was very obvious that Sesshomaru was protecting her.

There was something seriously wrong here, she could sense it.

Somehow what she was seeing and feeling didn’t mesh with what Inuyasha had told her.  No, that wasn’t right.  It was more like he had probably not told her a whole lot of things about what had happened to precipitate the beating he had taken.

Since encountering him wounded he hadn’t elaborated on what he had said, just telling her that he didn’t want to talk about it yet.  That, from what she knew of him, fit his character.  Now though she was starting to want some real answers.  And she would be getting them one way or another.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

Smirking and refusing to be bated, Inuyasha’s eyes swiveled to the little miko peeking out from behind Sesshomaru.  Now was the time to put his plan into action. 

Tucking his hands into his sleeves and sticking his nose into the air, he plastered a haughty expression on his face. “Keh, we ain’t staying.  We’re just passing through is all.  Me and Kikyo have teamed up again so I’m not going to have a problem finding shards or defeating Naraku.  As we all know Kikyo is better at that stuff than Kagome is, hands down.”

Sesshomaru snorted at that and everyone else either groaned or rolled their eyes.  Kagome refused to be baited and give him the reaction he wanted because she knew what he was trying to do and wanted no part of it.  Clinging to Sesshomaru, she stayed quiet and just watched.

Snorting, Inuyasha stared at her then continued on.  “It’s nice to once more have someone by my side that’s good for something besides just being a jewel shard detector and running their mouth.”

“You seemed to have found her to be a useful punching bag too Inuyasha.”  Sango told him, voice dripping acid.

“As well as someone to take your temper out on and torture.”  Kouga snarled.

“Hn…”  Sesshomaru said, eyes narrowing.  “If Kagome is as useless as you profess then why have you done everything in your power to get her back since I removed her from you?  You’ve also professed to love her how many times half-breed?  Sounds like sophistry if you ask me.”

“Keh…love doesn’t mean anything.  She’s fairly useless and always has been.” The hanyou retorted, eyes still locked on the miko.  “Especially since she’s become your whore Sesshomaru.”  He told the demon lord, smirking.

Snarling loudly, Sesshomaru’s eyes flashed dangerously.  “Enough!”  He barked out.  “Leave now!  Or we’re going to have another altercation that is once more going to result in you being badly beaten little brother!”  He ground out through clenched teeth.

Like with times in the past, a challenge from Sesshomaru and the possibility of showing him up was too good to resist.  Cracking his knuckles, Inuyasha snarled.  “Bring it on fucker!”  Then he launched himself at Sesshomaru.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

The exchanges with the other pack members had Kikyo’s full and undivided attention.  Something was starting to become clearer and jogged some things in her memory.  It was time she got some answers and she wanted them now!

Seeing what was about to happen between the brothers she felt she had to put a stop to it.  If they tangled nothing was going to get sorted out.

Knowing Inuyasha the way she did she knew trying to talk him down would do no good.  Nor would trying to stop the taiyoukai.  That meant she needed to do something drastic before things escalated any further.

Readying her bow, she notched an arrow then let it fly, a determined look on her face.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

Bracing himself and making sure that Kagome was well behind him, Sesshomaru waited for the whelps attack.  The other pack members moved over, weapons on the ready, prepared to protect the miko.

Eyes shut, not wanting to watch what was coming, Kagome hid behind Sesshomaru as much as she could.  Yes, she knew she should move way and let the others protect her but she wanted to stay close in case Kikyo become involved.  As a miko she would be needed if that happened.

When she saw Kikyo pull back the bowstring and aim, Kagome readied her own weapon and notched an arrow, wafting.

Sesshomaru saw the dead miko’s arrow fly seconds before it whizzed past his ear.  Facing her, he snarled, waiting for her attack.  But he needn’t have bothered, the arrow had already hit its mark.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

Waiting for just the right moment, Kikyo let the arrow fly.  Then, just as quickly, she sent three more right after it.  Her target:  Inuyasha.  As she had done in the past, she had pinned the hanyou to a tree by his clothes to get him out of the way and let him know not to do anything foolish. 

“Kikyo?!?”  He managed to stutter out, eyes wide.

“Silence Inuyasha!”  She snarled out, fixing him with a hard, cold look that managed to do what it intended.

Lowering her bow, but not putting it away in case she needed it quickly, she faced the pack.  Ignoring the bewildered looks on their faces, she pressed on.  “I wish to be told what is going on!”  She barked out.  Ignoring the looks she was getting and Sesshomaru’s glare, she continued.  “I found Inuyasha badly wounded a couple days ago.  He told me it was at the hands of Kagura and Kouga and at Sesshomaru’s insistence.  When I asked about Kagome I was told Sesshomaru had taken her away and the rest of the pack had abandoned him to join Sesshomaru.  From what I just heard it appears that Inuyasha left out a great many details in his explanation.  I wish to be told what exactly happened!”  She asked firmly.  Eyes swiveling to the big taiyoukai, she asked, “Did you take Kagome away from Inuyasha?”

“Indeed I did!”  He told her in a hard, cold voice.  “I removed Kagome in accordance with the youkai law that pertains to partners that abuse their mates.”

Nodding, now understanding what had been said, she looked at the houshi and exterminator.  “I assume that you left him because of this?”

Both nodded but it was Sango that answered her.  “Yes.  If he will abuse one woman, one he professes to love, who’s to say he wont’ do it to another?  I didn’t want to be in that situation.  Nor do I want to be associated with someone that would do such a thing!”

Nodding, Kikyo could appreciate what the young slayer said and her logic made a great deal of sense.  It was at that point the hanyou chose to chime in and argue his position in the situation.  Not wanting to hear anything the hanyou had to say, Kikyo notched another arrow and let it fly.  It parted his hair dead center in the middle of his head, drawing a thin line of blood across the part.  “Silence Inuyasha!”  She snarled out.

Sliding over to the tree where the half-breed was pinned, Miroku pulled out a sutra and slapped it over Inuyasha’s mouth, effectively silencing him until it was removed.

Nodding a thanks to the houshi, Kikyo lowered her bow.  Focusing on Kagome, she softened her tone.  “Would you please move to the edge of camp with me, I wish to talk to you.  I assure you I have nothing deceitful or treacherous in mind.  I just don’t wish to embarrass you with some of the questions I would like to ask.  I’ll ensure you that you won’t be out of Sesshomaru or your friend’s sight.”  She asked respectfully.  

Though Kagome didn’t trust Kikyo, she agreed.  There were questions she wanted to ask her as well.  After a glance at her friends and Sesshomaru, Kagome nodded.  “Alright, I’ll talk to you.”

Before allowing her to go off, Sesshomaru pulled her into a bit of a one armed hug and whispered in her ear.  “Don’t go any further than to the edge of camp with her.  If you get uncomfortable or nervous about something shoot me a signal of some kind and I’ll step in then put a stop to it.  Alright?”

“Will do.”  She replied with a nod then gave him a bit of a squeeze.  Once he broke away, she and Kikyo walked over to the edge of camp, out of everyone’s earshot.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

Seating themselves, both onnas were quiet for several minutes, neither knowing what to say or how to start the conversation.

Finally, Kikyo kicked things off.  Looking at her reincarnation’s bruised face; she asked gently, “Did Inuyasha do that to you?”

Putting a hand on the side of her face, Kagome nodded and sighed.  “Yes.  He grabbed me from camp the other day.  This is the reason Kouga and Kagura did what they did.”  She told her with a regretful sigh.

Now things were becoming clearer to Kikyo.  The door opened, Kikyo pressed forward.

…ks…ks…ks…ks…

About a half an hour or so later Kikyo had asked the last of her questions and was looking down at the ground, contemplating what she had said.

That was when Kagome asked a question she had been wondering about for quite some time.  “Kikyo…did Inuyasha ever try to abuse you?”  She asked quietly.

Pulled out of her thoughts, the dead miko looked at her reincarnation.  This was not an unanticipated question.  “He tried but didn’t succeed.”  She told her, voice cold.  “Unlike you, I’m not all that forgiving and soft hearted.  I had no problem becoming violent right back.  I pinned him to a tree much like he is right now and made it abundantly clear that if he ever even attempted it again he wouldn’t survive the encounter with all his body parts intact and fully functional.”

Nodding, Kagome gave an internal sigh and wondered, not for the first time, if she shouldn’t have done something similar the first time herself.  “Did you ever hear of him doing something similar to anyone else?”

“I heard rumors but nothing I was ever able to confirm.  What I heard was that he liked to abuse local prostitutes.  And that during the act he would often become violent and seemed to enjoy causing them pain.  It does sound like it wasn’t just talk, I heard the same thing many times, but was never able to talk to anyone that would admit to having been with him. Not surprising really because of the way hanyou’s are viewed.  If they admitted to having serviced a hanyou their business would be gone.”

Changing tracks a bit, she fully focused on her futuristic reincarnation.  “If you’ll call Sesshomaru over I’ll give you both a bit of information that can assist you.”

No, Kagome really didn’t trust Kikyo all that much and never had but her instincts were telling her that she was being sincere so she looked over at the demon lord and motioned for him to come over and join them.

Quickly, the taiyoukai moved over and sat down behind his miko then waited to see what was going on.

Once Sesshomaru was there Kikyo launched in to what she was going to say.  “Though I’m not going to involve myself directly in this I will help in a peripheral way. I’ll keep Inuyasha detained tonight so you can move out and distance yourself from here.  After that I’ll travel with him and try to keep him away from Kagome and the rest of you.  That’s the only real thing I can offer on the subject other than a firm warning to keep vigilant.

“But, in another area, I can be a bit more help.  No, I know of no way that is known to work beyond a shadow of a doubt to break a mating bond completely.  But from what Kagome has told me, it sounds as though it has greatly weakened.  What I can tell you is there is a draught that will help to weaken it more.  Normally, it’s used to help treat wasting sicknesses but it seems to have a side effect of weakening hanyou mating bonds.  I assume youkai as well but because they are so much stronger it might not be noticeable.”  Then she gave the name of it to Kagome.

A bit of excitement building in her, Kagome nodded.  She knew what it was and how to make it.  Not only that, she had all the ingredients in her pack.

“Take it twice a day and it may cut the time until it’s weak enough that Sesshomaru can break it.”

Stopping, the dead one looked at the two, a very serious, solemn look on her face.  “I have heard that there is a way to completely beak the mating bond but I’m not sure if it works or not.  Nothing I know is a sure-fire way of doing it.”

“How is it done?”  Sesshomaru asked sharply.  If there was a way to break it he would do whatever it took to accomplish it.

Shaking her head, Kikyo replied, “It’s nothing you or anyone else can do.  To break it, from what I’ve heard, because it has been weakened, probably because of Inuyasha’s own action, if he completely betrays Kagome in some way the bond will, from what I’ve heard, completely break.  He has to do it of his own free will, it isn’t something he can be pushed or goaded into, he has to do it of his own free will.  If he does that it should free Kagome from him completely.  But, you need to remember, I do not know if this works or not.  I’ve heard it a few times but never been able to confirm that it works nor have I ever encountered anyone that reputes to have had it happen to him.  The only place I’ve heard of this is in a few scrolls I’ve read years ago.”

Brain working rapidly, Sesshomaru worked over what he had just been told with a bloom of something positive in his chest.  This gave him hope that Kagome had a way to be free from the whelp.  But there was also a bit of something uneasy there that made him wonder what price it may cost her in the end.  In fact, a foreboding feeling slowly began to creep in on small, quiet feet.  But, on the other hand, the potion she talked about was a big plus.  He would ensure that his miko took it just as she was supposed to every day. 

Deciding there was no more to discuss on any of the topics, Kikyo decided to end things.  “If you pack up your things and move out I’ll keep Inuyasha here for the night.  Hopefully you can lose him if he doesn’t already know your destination.”

“That’s a sound suggestion.”  Standing up, Sesshomaru brushed off his clothes.  “We should be pushing on before it gets any later.”

Both onnas stood as well.  Before walking away Kagome looked at Kikyo.  “Thank you Kikyo.  You’ve been a big help.”

“Take care of yourself and be careful.”  Kikyo warned her gently.