Battle of Wills (revised)

Kagome had never taken so long to dress in her life. Every aching muscle was an instant reminder of what had occurred moments ago. It flooded her mind with doubt and fears she never knew she would have to face. As a young girl she never thought she would find true love, and now, now it was confused. Did she love Sesshoumaru? Did she love Inu Yasha? Could she love them both, or did she really love either of them? After all, she had never loved Inu Yasha the way that she loves Sesshoumaru now, but...was it the sex? Could she eventually love Inu Yasha in the same way? Was she cheating herself and him if she explored her feelings with Sesshoumaru? She sighed heavily and pondered her relationship with Sesshoumaru. She really didn’t know that much about him. As far as she knew he was cold and closed off. He was another demon to be purified. But now things had change. The first time they had made love, she told herself she was caught up in the moment, a slave to her hormones. She had been trapped with a cruel lecherous man, or demon, without anyone else around to save her. But now, now was different. She could have screamed, protested, ran for the well, but she didn’t. She did not stop his advances, but welcomed them. Was this love or something else? No. She would not deny this. Even if she didn't know WHAT this was. It was something beautiful and it would be a sin to throw such a gift away.

She bit her lip as she pictured Inu Yasha’s face as she told him. The pain he would feel. Kagome fingered the small jewel that had brought her home. ‘If only this had all happened before Inu Yasha and I had become so close.’ She thought. ‘If only he could be happy for me and his brother.’ She let a tear fall from her eyes as she held the jewel to her chest. Her mixing emotions were tearing her up inside. “I wish there was a way for THIS to work without hurting Inu Yasha.”

Suddenly the small jewel she clenched in her hand began to glow and vibrate, prying itself free of her grasp. Her eyes widened as she watched it hover in the air, filling the small room with light so bright that it seemed to penetrate the walls themselves. Kagome closed her eyes as the light intensified, lowering herself to the floor. Moments passed and she slowly opened one eye, and the other.

The shiko-no-tama was gone. Kagome sat there for several minutes stunned, staring into space. Suddenly, she clapped a hand over her mouth as a realization came over her. “Baka!” She groaned. Kagome let her face drop into her lap as she realized what she had done. She, inadvertently, had wished on the shiko-no-tama. “Well, I’m screwed.” She huffed.

She took a deep breath and stood realizing how long she had left Sesshoumaru alone with her family. Kagome let her thoughts drift to Inu Yasha as she walked out of the bathroom and into the hall. She worried about what adverse effects the spell would have on him or on the well. She realized she would have to break her and Sesshoumaru’s date to see her world.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs a small voice growled at her “Acid claws.” as he thrust a small clawed hand in front of her face.

Kagome gaped, “Acid claws?”

Souta smiled up at his sister, “Sesshoumaru showed me.”

“He did?” she questioned as she quirked an eyebrow.

“He said it would make me less annoying.” Souta squeaked.

Kagome giggled nervously, “To whom?”

“But it was scary right?” Souta beamed.

“Frightening.” Kagome answered sarcastically as she patted the small boy on the head and headed for the dinning room. To her surprise and horror she found her mother sitting next to Sesshoumaru, and they seemed to be having a REAL conversation. They each sat on the ground around the table with a dish in front of them. She noticed Sesshoumaru’s remained untouched. ‘So this is why he was so eager to leave without me.’ She glared.

“Kagome, come and join us!” her mother chimed in cheerfully.

Kagome sat on the other side of the table staring at her mother and Sesshoumaru. She listened as her mother prattled on about current affairs and what had changed in the last 500 years. Sesshoumaru seemed to listen to her intently as she spoke.

Kagome ate her food slowly as she eyed him suspiciously. She knew that he could not understand EVERYTHING her mother was telling him, but he hid it well.

“Why do you allow your daughter to dress so indecently?” he questioned as Kagome choked, coughing loudly.

Kagome’s mother smiled, “You mean her school uniform? All the girls wear them. It’s not considered indecent here.”

Kagome piped up after she had regained her voice, glaring. “Most MEN here who find it indecent only think such things because they are afraid of a powerful woman, or cannot control their own urges.”

“I see.” Sesshoumaru answered with a smirk.

“Women are treated as equals here….” Kagome paused, “more or less.”

“More or less?” The demon lord questioned.

“Well, we’re SUPPOSED to be treated equally.” Kagome softened her tone.

Sesshoumaru eyed Kagome sporadically as her mother went off about women’s liberation and the many struggles of women since his time.

The young miko bit her lip as she stifled a giggle watching her mother “educate” a man like Sesshoumaru.

Kagome’s mother stopped talking as her eyes fell on Sesshoumaru’s untouched plate. “Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to talk so much. Eat, please.”

“I do not eat.” Sesshoumaru stated simply.

Kagome saw the question behind her mother’s eyes and stood up before she had a chance to ask it. “I think we should go back through the well now.”

Sesshoumaru looked up to the small girl standing at the end of the table. “Why now?

The young girl huffed, “I’ll tell you on the way.”

The demon lord nodded as he rose from the table following Kagome as she waved good bye to her parents and headed towards the shrine. “What is the matter Kagome?”

Kagome sighed, “The Shiko-no-tama. I wished on it.”

“Why?” he questioned.

“It was an accident,” she answered quickly, “I was just very upset and confused. I knew eventually we would have to face Inu Yasha. I just couldn’t bare the thought of his heart breaking when I told him I was in love with his brother, and I just wanted him to be happy.”

Sesshoumaru stopped suddenly, causing Kagome to turn around and stare.

“I said it was an accidentt.” She whimpered.

Sesshoumaru cupped her chin with his hand, lightly stroking the side of her face with his thumb. “That is not the part I was listening to or care about.”

“I was upset?” Kagome questioned lifting an eyebrow.

He couldn’t help but smirk at her innocence. “Well that troubles me, but not as much as it should at this moment.”

Kagome mentally thought over what she had just said as Sesshoumaru stared at her intently waiting for her to come to the realization on her own. ‘Confused….upset…knew eventually we would have to face Inu Yasha …couldn’t bare the thought…in love with his brother.’ “OH!” Kagome’s eyes snapped back to Sesshoumaru’s as she realized what she had admitted.

Sesshoumaru embraced her firmly, whispering into her ear, “Thank you, Kagome.”

Kagome buried her head into his chest. ‘Why had I said that? When I was so confused before…How could it fall so easily off my lips when I had such a hard admitting it to Inu Yasha?’ She hugged the demon lord back whispering “You’re welcome.” into his chest.

He quickly pulled her to stand beside him and continued towards the well, the smirk still gracing his face.

“Gods, this seems familiar.” She huffed as they walked towards the lip of the well. “ I can’t even count the number of times I’ve done this.”

Sesshoumaru was intrigued, “Inu Yasha allowed you to come back here that often?”

Kagome crossed her arms triumphantly over her chest, “He didn’t have a choice.”

“I see.” Sesshoumaru grinned as he entangled his hand with hers. “An interesting challenge. What could possibly entice you to stay?”

Kagome blushed lightly as he pulled her into the well behind him. She seemed relieved as the purple haze once again surrounded them. 'It still works, Thank god.' She sighed. As their feet touch ground Sesshoumaru looked up. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and allowing his senses to take in the wonderful smell he had longed for, for so long. “We are back in my time.” He whispered into Kagome’s neck, cradling the girl in his arms, as he leapt out of the well.