After Midnight

DISCLAIMER: ahsayunI nwo ton od I. I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 11:
Anathema


The forest was quiet. He could see the tops of the trees swaying in the breeze, but could not hear the leaves rustle. No longer did the air he breathed carry the scents of rotting wood and grass. He could barely catch his own scent. The auras of the miko and his half-brother’s group were lost to him. His limbs felt leaden. White-hot knives of agony shot through his muscles as he forced them to move. Everywhere he looked objects took on a red tint as if the world was bathed in blood. The edges of his vision faded to black. Silver brows drew together over golden eyes.

This was ridiculous. He was Sesshomaru. An incredibly strong youkai such as he could not be effected by a mere mysterious white powder. Yet one by one his senses had abandoned him. The fact that his condition had been steadily worsening by the minute did not escape him. What had that lowly lizard exposed him to?

His vision pulsed in time with the heavy thrumming in his head. Never before had he experienced such, not even when he was hit with the wind scar. He didn’t realize he had stumbled until another throb brought his sight back to him and he found himself face down on the forest floor. Leaves and blades of grass stuck in his hair. This was pathetic and intolerable, but he felt so damn weak. At the edge of his awareness he could feel something beckoning to him, a void in thought whispering of relief. Instinct told him to avoid it. That if he stepped into that comforting emptiness the price would be high.

Using the last bit of his strength he pushed himself up onto his knees. The kitsune’s words echoed in his mind.

“I think if you dropped the act a bit you two might get along. You could use a few more friends.”

With that final thought Sesshomaru did the only thing he could to keep himself from being completely vulnerable; he gave control over to his more primal self.

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Beady black eyes watched the white clad Lord stumble through the forest with all the dignity of a drunkard. If he had not been sure that the dog still had at least some of his senses he would have laughed. The high and mighty Lord Sesshomaru, helpless in the woods like a newborn pup.

It would be so easy to kill him now. Inwardly he glowered. He couldn’t kill him. That particular course of actions would be met with an exceedingly painful demise. The boar youkai shivered. His mistress had been known to make a game out of how much pain she could inflict before a person lost consciousness. No. He had been given very specific instructions: Fetch.

Finally the Western Lord stumbled and fell face first to the ground. Thick fingers tipped in grimy nails parted the foliage. He was about to step out from behind the shield of brush when he saw the stubborn dog push himself up onto his knees. Heavy cloth wrapped feet hesitated. His mistress had said that the inu would be as docile and obedient as a lap dog, but this was still Sesshomaru. The short bristle-like hair on his arms rose to attention.

After waiting a few more minutes he stepped cautiously from behind his cover. The boar observed Sesshomaru’s closed eyes and bent posture. Deciding that the demon Lord appeared unconscious enough he reached into the pouch on his belt and retrieved a pair of manacles. The metal felt slick and oily. Involuntarily his hands twitched.

Shuffling toward his quarry, he stretched out a hand and tentatively tapped the inu’s shoulder. Blood red eyes snapped open and there was a flash of white. The boar blinked. Sesshomaru still knelt before him, but his torso was twisted so that he could look into the boar’s face. A wicked predatory smile revealed the daiyoukai’s fangs as he watched the top half of the youkai slide slowly off the bottom half.

Sesshomaru stood, nonchalantly flicking the gore from his claws and rolling his shoulders. He took a deep pull of the air and closed his eyes. The soft smell of plum blossoms and ivy with a delicious hint of purity was headed right for him. An anticipatory smile crossed his lips.

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Kagome inwardly scowled. She had not been expecting a low-level oni to use a flash bomb that was obviously taijiya made. Blinking furiously in an effort to clear the spots from her eyes, she just managed to block his strike. Shippo’s description of his battle came back to her. Two and two became four. “I see your boss isn’t the only one who uses dirty tricks,” she ground out.

The oni roared, bringing both his fists down, his left landing inches from her. “You dare insult my Mistress?”

‘Mistress?’ Kagome rolled between the oni’s legs and slashed at the flesh on the back of his ankles. He leapt away, though his mirth in the battle was lost at her comment.

“Kagome-nee-chan!” Rin’s voice rang out from over Shippo’s back. Had she really been fighting long enough for them to catch up to her?

Shippo looked over his shoulder at Rin. Did she need to announce their presence like that? Huffing to himself the kitsune scanned the area. He didn’t want to put Rin in danger, but he needed to help his mother. An exceptionally large oak tree stood out from the surrounding wood and he made his decision. Setting his passenger down behind it he schooled his features into complete seriousness. “Rin, stay here.”

The young woman’s lips twisted in an effort to hide her smile. She nodded and watched Shippo charge toward the mal-figured demon. Sometimes he reminded her far too much of her Lord.

Kagome saw a flash of orange and cream from the corner of her eye. The blur dove at the oni’s unprotected left flank, eliciting a roar when its claws snapped a vital tendon in the monster‘s leg. With a crash it hit the forest floor kneeling, sending a nearby flock of birds into the sky.

Following her son’s lead, the miko waited until he had distracted her opponent to deal the final blow. She rushed forward, using the oni’s knee as leverage and leapt into the air. Her sword sunk hilt deep into the chest of the youkai. Pink purity threaded over the creature’s skin in charring veins. A last echoing howl and the oni was no more. Panting slightly she turned toward Shippo. “Are you all right?”

He nodded and opened his mouth to say something when Rin’s jubilant shout cut him off. “Lord Sesshomaru!” Rin’s feet pounding across the forest floor toward the distant white figure of the daiyoukai.

In a blink, the demon Lord that was a hundred and fifty yards away, was now ten yards away. Kagome sucked in a startled gasp. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. His youki, which was usually contained to a comforting thrum, was now a pounding bass that vibrated to her bones. The hair on the back of her neck and arms stood at attention. Looking ahead, she could tell Shippo was feeling the same. His usual shapely tail took on the form of a bottlebrush. He reached out a hand to grab Rin by the arm.

Round brown eyes locked onto Shippo’s wan face. “What?”

Neither mother nor son answered. Kagome was too busy carefully convincing her heart it would not be beneficial to explode. Even in his father’s tomb Sesshomaru’s presence had not had this... deadly intent. Everything about him, from the way his hands hung loosely at his sides to the smooth roll of his steps, screamed that he was hunting down prey. There was not one particle in her being that could convince her they were not it.

Shippo and Rin stood frozen five feet in front of her as the daiyoukai continued to approach. Kagome locked her eyes to the white figure, and took two determined steps to the side. It was enough to bring her out from behind the younger woman and kitsune. It also drew Sesshomaru’s attention. His head turned ever so slightly towards her, but his hair, hanging loosely around him, blocked his face from her vision. Forcing her breath to be slow and steady, and ever so thankful she hadn’t sheathed her sword, Kagome began walking forward. Her instinct demanded she place herself between the potential threat and her children.

‘Why is he acting like this?’ A chill went down her spine. ‘Unless... Did something happen to Akitsuki and Sayuri?’ No. Kagome shook her head slowly. He wouldn’t act this murderous in front of Rin. It’s almost like Inuyasha when he loses himself to his demon blood. But Sesshomaru is full youkai. That isn’t possible.

It was as Kagome made it up even with Rin and Shippo that the daiyoukai lifted his chin high enough so that his bangs slipped out of his eyes. ‘Oh no,’ was her only thought before all hell broke loose.

When Shippo got a glimpse of the crimson orbs and violently twisted stripes across the demon Lord’s face images of Inuyasha’s feral state assaulted him. Unconsciously he took a step backward, dragging Rin with him, and that was when in the inu youkai snapped.

Feeling the shift in aura that denoted her son and Rin’s movement backward Kagome launched herself. Her shoulder collided painfully with Sesshomaru’s armor, the spikes ripping through her tender flesh. He wasn’t even knocked off balance. However she did manage to jar him, and the strike he landed on Shippo hit the kitsune’s shoulder instead of his chest only causing a gash instead of amputation. Shippo tried not to gag on the combined spell of blood and burning flesh. A howl tore from the daiyoukai’s throat as the purity Kagome had charged her body with bit into the inu youkai‘s flesh.

“Run!” Kagome ordered.

The kitsune knew that voice. It was her ‘do it or die’ voice. Sweeping Rin into his arms he bounded off in the direction of Inuyasha ignoring his passenger‘s cry of protest.

Had his wrath and power not been focused on her Kagome would have been in true awe. As it was all she could do to keep herself alive was hold the barrier separating her from Sesshomaru. It shimmered before her like a giant lilac wall. The color a testament to the amount of power she had to expend in order for it to hold. Still it bowed dangerously under his continued strikes, the green of his youki steadily weakening it. She was grateful he seemed content to focus on her instead of following the retreating figures of her son and Rin.

Sesshomaru growled, baring a pair of thick incisors. He drew back and then slammed into the barrier three times in quick succession. With a sound akin to tinkling glass it fractured and split. Claws bit into her chest and she was forced to the ground. Her breath left her in a pained whoosh, white erupting in front of her eyes. In a violet wave he was forced off of her.

Blood dribbled from the punctures in her shoulders, chest, and back. It stained the dirt a muddy rust and the grass red. Kagome rolled to her side trying to determine where he was and why he hadn‘t attacked again. Unfocused blue eyes alighted on the still smoking remnants of his haori. Bile rose in her throat at the sight. Part of the material had melted onto his skin leaving slick black patches that oozed fluid. Narrowed scarlet orbs studied her as he casually reached up and peeled his top from his person. She gagged at the sticky Velcro sound it made.

Another guttural snarl left him before he pounced, the sound giving her just enough time to raise a shield. He slammed against it, rattling her teeth in her jaw. It would break faster this time she knew. If their fight continued much longer she would be forced to purify him or die. But then, he had been struck in the dead center of his chest with her miko energy, and though it had done grisly damage it had not purified him. Not that it had been her intention to do anything more than get him off of her at the time.

The few, or the many? Kagome dragged herself to her feet, wavering unsteadily. With Naboru on the rampage, and the East calling for aide, Sesshomaru was probably the only Lord who could keep the lands of Japan from falling into total war. Still, he could do nothing in his current state. If she didn’t kill him he would kill her, and probably all of her friends. She locked gazes with the feral inu as he stalked closer to her. What was wrong with him?

“Sesshomaru,” she called out in warning, pushing as much authority into her voice as she could. The daiyoukai paused just on the other side of her barrier, his lips pulled back from his fangs. “Stop or I’ll be forced to kill you.”

Kagome’s mouth dropped open as a feral grin stretch across his face, and his shoulders shook in...laughter? He drug a single claw along her barrier causing pink sparks to leap from its surface. Staring her in the eye, Sesshomaru curled his fingers slowly into a fist and drove it forward.

The miko grunted. The force of his blow shattered the energy field and knocked her to the ground for the second time. In a beat she had made her decision. With a pained gasp at the contraction of her abdominal muscles Kagome sat up. She twisted her blade between then, setting the flat side forward and released a shot of energy. Mid-leap Sesshomaru twisted deftly to the side. Her jaw tightened in dismay when he avoided the stream of purity and landed in a crouch two feet in front of her. Kagome swallowed thickly. She’d missed.

They stayed that way for a full minute and the miko finally realized he was waiting for her to loose consciousness. There was a knowing gleam in his eyes. He was toying with her. The wounds she had received would have killed a normal person, but even with the majority of her power being used to defend herself a tiny tendril remained to work steadily toward knitting her flesh. Sesshomaru was simply seeing how long it would take for her to succumb to injury.

Anger flared and sharp panting filled her ears. After a few moments she recognized the sound as her own struggle to drag oxygen into her system. Black flickered at the corner of her vision. Still, the demon didn’t move. Kagome stared back at him. The muscles in his shoulders twitched, his body filled with the tension of a predator about to pounce.

Inuyasha’s words rang in her head. All the warnings, the admonishments about her not being strong enough to protect herself hit home. Still a tiny part of her pushed back against the overwhelming feeling of failure. How could she have ever known she’d be facing a feral Sesshomaru?

Her pulse quickened when he slowly stalked toward her on all fours. With the blood loss and the extensive use of her powers for the second time in as many days there was nothing she could do. Dilated pupils traced his movements. She choked out unsteady breaths and mentally berated herself for wishing Inuyasha would come pelting out of the bushes. When Sesshomaru was nose to nose with her he knelt and lowered his head to her left shoulder. Kagome winced involuntarily when his tongue swept across a wound in a long drag. His chest rumbled with what could only be called a pleased growl.

Confused beyond measure Kagome felt her body relax by degrees. So, this is how she would die? Another languid pass of his tongue and her eyelids fluttered shut. The daiyoukai’s left hand came up to clasp her uninjured shoulder. She could feel her consciousness slipping away from her. Her head lolled to the right, unwittingly baring her neck and Sesshomaru paused.

Kagome’s brows furrowed together in concentration. She tried to dig up the last bit of her energy. It flickered inside her feebly. Perhaps with him so close to her she could hit him before he dodged. His nose settled into the crook of her neck, hot air ghosted across her skin. Suddenly the daiyoukai stiffened and drew back.

Her groggy mind processed the fact there was a rather loud argument taking place behind her. Inuyasha’s shouts and growls mixed with Kikyo’s, Miroku’s, and Sango’s pleas. Dark brown hair swung into Kagome’s vision on her right. A small hand lowered slowly to touch the back of Sesshomaru’s left hand, which was still resting on her shoulder.

“Lord Sesshomaru,” Rin’s voice was soft. Her head was bowed down, neck exposed. From the corner of her chocolate eyes she peered up at him. Gently she pressed her chest against Kagome’s back, guiding the woman to lean against her.

Rin’s voice brought the miko fully back to consciousness. “Rin, don’t. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Hush, Kagome-nee-chan,” she whispered kindly. Slender arms wrapped around Kagome’s waist and chocolate orbs met crimson. In a murmur that was not audible to the miko but was perfectly clear to the daiyoukai Rin said, “Father, please.”

Gold flashed briefly, and with a rush of air Sesshomaru was gone.

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At times Koga really missed having the jewel shards in his legs. This was one of those times. He had made it to the bottom of the mountains when he detected a hint of blood on the breeze. Not just anyone’s blood, Kagome’s blood. Koga followed the scent with everything he had in him, slipping back into his old ways of cursing the Inu-kuro for not protecting her. Of course his mind reminded him that Kagome had refused Inuyasha’s protection for the better part of fifty years.

In the distance he could feel a very large, very angry demonic aura moving away from him, and thankfully Kagome. It took him a full ten minutes of sensing the youkai to realize it was the daiyoukai of the Western Land. He’d never felt the demon Lord’s youki like this and was secretly glad he was moving further North. Though it did give him a rather bad shock when he noted the inu youkai was headed in the direction of the Northern Citadel, and thus, his father. Putting that line of thought aside for a moment he focused on reaching Kagome.

Another fifteen minutes of running and he came into sight of the group, all seemingly huddled around something on the ground. Koga skidded to a stop drawing a few glances, but holding no one’s attention. The once undead priestess, Kiki? Kiyo? He couldn’t remember her name, was leaning over a very unconscious and thoroughly blood soaked Kagome. The woman’s hands glowed pink over Kagome’s wounds. Koga’s hackles rose at the purity. He could see the ripped and punctured flesh of the younger miko knit back together, but it was obvious the wounds were too extensive for Inuyasha’s mate to heal.

“Kikyo are you alright?” Inuyasha crouched next to his mate, eyeing her sweaty brow and shaking fingers.

She nodded her head, trying to sooth her mate, but Miroku took the moment to speak up. “It would be impossible for you to heal them all, Lady Kikyo, and far too draining for you to attempt such. Enough has been done that Lady Kagome can survive on her own strength. Once her strength returns she will heal herself.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “She would not want you to leave yourself vulnerable.”

Kikyo sighed heavily, but dropped her hands from their positions. The rosy glow dissipated.

Koga was ready to belt out admonishments toward the inu hanyou but when he finally caught a good look at the severity of Kagome‘s wounds the fire left his words. “What happened here?”

It was Inuyasha who spoke. “Sesshomaru,” he bit out.

“This is a discussion for later. I want to get Kagome cleaned and bandaged and then out of here,” Sango interjected. Rin and Shippo nodded, seconding her, both kitsune and woman looking over their adopted mother fretfully.

Shippo sniffed a bit before motioning toward their right. “There’s a stream over that way.” He gingerly picked up his mother and placed her on the back of Kirara. Emerald eyes traced the silhouettes of the fire-cat, Sango, and Rin until they were lost to the woods.

After walking for about ten minutes the women came across the promised stream. It was little more than a thin creak with a small sandy crescent along one of the bows. As they stripped the miko and washed her Sango asked the question that had been bothering her from the moment she had first seen Kagome. “What was Lord Sesshomaru doing?”

“Huh?” Rin asked distractedly, rinsing blood from the miko’s hair.

“When we first showed up, what was he doing to Kagome?”

Dark brows drew together in a thoughtful silence. “Well, from what I can tell he was originally playing with her.”

Sango let out an outraged “WHAT!?”

“No, no,” Rin chided. “Toying with her. If he wanted to just kill her, he would have beheaded her,” she stated blithely.

The taijiya scowled but conceded that was probably true. “But why?”

“Why? I don’t know, but when we first got there and he was kneeling next to her he was confused.”

A skeptical eyebrow rose, “and you could tell this how?”

Rin carefully lifted Kagome’s left arm as Sango supported the miko in the water. “Because he was trying to identify her. I say he was confused because he used both taste and scent, whereas ordinarily one of those is more than enough.”

Sango nodded thoughtfully. It fit with what she knew of inu youkai.

“If he had placed her by scent I don’t think he would have attacked her. You saw he didn’t attack me.” Rin bit her lip. She was worried about her father. Oh, she’d seen him as he was today a few times, the most memorable being after Katsuro’s birth. But he had never attacked anyone who wasn’t an enemy.

“Hmm,” the taijiya murmured, replaying the scene in her mind. Somehow she didn’t agree with Rin’s assessment. Sure the scent of the dead oni offended even her human nostrils, but the smell of Kagome’s blood had been much more prevalent. Her mind worked the problem while they wrapped bandages over the miko’s injuries. Finally they redressed her in a loose hakama and haori set that had been buried in the bottom of her satchel.

With minor difficulty, mostly due to the placement of Kagome’s wounds, the two women managed to hoist her back onto Kirara. They started back toward camp, each silently lost in their thoughts. Before the rest of their group was even in sight they could hear the usual arguing between wolf and hanyou.

“It’s not my fault the stupid girl ran off ahead of me.”

“You’re pretty worthless if you can’t keep track of one human female,” Koga shot back. He stopped when Rin entered the clearing, catching her scent and linking it with the cubs back at his den. “Yo. Your daughter’s are at my den.”

Rin’s eyes widened and she let out a relieved breath. “Thank goodness.”

“Well, then it would be wise for us to retrieve them. I’m sure they will be relieved to be reunited with their mother.” Miroku stated, glad for the interruption of what was sure to be a fistfight.

Kikyo jumped in before her mate could argue. “Kagome will be able to rest there as well.” She hated playing on Inuyasha’s protective feelings for the younger miko, but they needed to leave the area now. Low level youkai would be drawn to the scent of blood.

Inuyasha scowled and turned his head to the side with a “keh.” His gaze traveled over to his injured and unconscious friend and his anger at his half-brother increased. Sesshomaru was so much stronger than he was, sure Inuyasha didn’t like it but he knew it was true. What had caused the arrogant ass to loose it like he had? He had secretly thought that overstuffed dog would never harm Kagome. Sesshomaru may be good at hiding his emotions, but Inuyasha could tell he harbored some sort of feelings for the girl. The hanyou didn’t like that either. His face set itself in a sour grimace.

Sango jumped onto Kirara’s back and steadied Kagome. “Well lets get going.”

Shippo grabbed Rin and hoisted her onto his back while Kikyo climbed onto Inuyasha’s. Miroku and Koga looked at each other warily.

A nefarious grin split the inu hanyou’s face. “Ride with Koga, letch. You won’t keep up otherwise.”

“I think I’ll take my chances,” Miroku replied, eyeing the ookami warily.

“Damn right you will.” Koga muttered, and then the group was off heading toward the wolf den.

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Sesshomaru paused at a stagnant puddle of water five miles from the Northern Citadel. Tenseiga pulsed steadily at his side. His mind was still muddled, but at least he had full use of his body again. The experience he’d had was akin to being in his transformed state. He had been all instinct, but had lacked his usual ability to think. Instead every action was on impulse and it was only after the fact that he’d realized what he’d done.

Pink swirls mixed with the black water as he washed the miko’s blood off his hands. He’d been drawn in by the scent of the miko, but upon his arrival was distracted by Rin. He’d proceeded to attack the threat to his daughter, which he now identified as Shippo. Then he had attacked the creature that kept him from his prey, Kagome. If her barrier hadn’t been so strong he probably would’ve killed her. Instead he’d seen an opponent instead of something weak, and he’d been curious. The little miko had held her ground rather well against him.

Once the scent of her blood finally registered he’d been fairly confused. Why would the alpha female of his pack attack him? Now it made sense, of course. Sesshomaru was rather glad Rin had intervened before he had decided to reassert dominance. He had no idea what he would’ve done, but it was best he hadn’t done it. Yes, he could admit to feeling guilt over his actions. It was foreign to him still, having felt it only a few times when dealing with Rin, but he recognized it all the same.

Sesshomaru wondered if the next time they crossed paths the little miko would be afraid of him. Something inside him cringed at that. A reaction that should be prized in mortals would feel wrong coming from her. He’d respected her, been intrigued by her, and enjoyed her company before.

“You like her don’t you?”

Damn that kitsune. Yes, Gods help him he actually liked Kagome. She was...a friend. He shook himself, getting back to the task at hand.

The Northern Castle had a renowned healer, second only to the one in his employ. It was his best option at the moment. The longer he was affected by the powder the more difficult it was to focus. He still couldn’t transform into his true form or his energy ball while Tenseiga was acting as a restraint, nor could he use his youki cloud. Traveling on foot was taking more out of him than he would have liked to admit.

Standing, Sesshomaru resumed his journey to the wolf Lord’s home.

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AN:

Thank you to DarkTigress, Sugar0o, Integra and Archfiend for your support and wonderful reviews. Archfiend, this chapter doesn't have a lot of battle in it, but what it has is for you. Trust me *winks* around chapter 13 or 14 there's another big huge battle scene.

Indigo: There. Now maybe Koga will leave me alone.

Inuyasha: Not likely.

Indigo: Oh well, one can hope. I’ve been writing for twelve hours solid and it’s break time.

Kagome: Her muse is back on the couch sleeping.

Muse: ::snores::

Indigo: Though how she can sleep through Koga and Sessho fighting in the background I have no idea.

::several growls and ominous crashes::

Indigo: If they keep this up I’m going to have to hire a carpenter.

Kagome: What are they fighting about?

Indigo: Oh, you know Koga. He just found out this is a Sess/Kag fic....eventually.

Kagome: Why don’t you just, ya know, zap him

Indigo: I couldn’t do that to Sessho. Not when he’s fighting Koga. Plus if he knocks the wolf out I don’t have to hear his whining about next chapter.

::very loud and suspiciously metal sounding clang::

Inu-cast: ::winces::

Sessho: ::walks out looking smug::

Well you know it, so you should do it. It’s like caffeine for the muse. Review.

Preview!

Chapter 12: Shuffle

Noting the sudden silence Myoga continued on, changing the subject as he went. “With Lord Sesshomaru in his current condition and the threat of an attack imminent, someone must go to the Palace Moon to inform those in command.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the flea. “Who is in command now?” Kikyo wondered aloud.

“That would be Rin’s eldest Katsuro, General Isamu, and Master Inuyasha,” he answered.

“Wow,” Sango breathed. “I never expected Inuyasha to be a second in command.

“Yes, despite their differences the West is the domain of Inu no Tashio and his family. Should one fall, the other must take his place. Your son,“ he addressed Kikyo, “Jun’Ichi must help as well.”

“Why don’t you go?” Kagome asked.

“I must follow after Lord Sesshomaru.”