Battle of Wills (revised)

Kagome winced as another branch pulled at her clothing, groaning softly, as she trudged through the dark forest. She had been walking for what seemed like an eternity but had in fact only been a few hours. 'I won't turn back.' She argued with herself. 'I made my decision and and now I have to deal with it.' Her heart sank again as she thought of Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha. 'What am I doing to them? What kind of horrible person am I that I can play with other peoples hearts like this?' She wanted to cry, but there were no more tears. The dried tears of hours ago still clung to her face, and stung at her eyes. She had waited until she was sure Inu Yasha was asleep before moving. For once she was pleased that he chose to sleep sitting up and far enough away that she could sneak out unnoticed. She needed time. Time to clear her head. Time to weigh her decisions. Time to think about the consequences of her actions. Too much had happened too quickly, and she had been unprepared.

She knew there was a possiblitiy that either Inu Yasha or Sesshoumaru might come looking for her once she crossed back into her time. Would she seal the well? Perhaps. It had been done once before. She could always unseal it when she was thinking clearly. But for now, she needed time, she needed space, she needed... "air." She remarked out loud as she noticed the clearing to the well house. "I found it." Kagome sighed happily. She had been walking for quite some time, and without Inu Yasha she was half affraid she might have been walking in circles. She was pleased that she had found it before the sun had come up and Inu Yasha had started looking for her. 'No time to just stand around.' She thought as she began running up to the well. She knew that if Inu Yasha woke and found her missing he could easily track her scent.

She pulled the other strap of her backpack over her shoulder as she extended her hands to find the lip of the well in the darkness. Its smooth wooden texture was always comforting to her. This was the doorway. This was her escape. This is where her worlds of passion and love connected, and sometimes overlapped.

Kagome found herself hesitating and bit her lip. She was hoping Inu Yasha would come and stop her, all though, she wouldn't admit it to herself. 'No time for thinking Kagome. We can do that once were home.' She reprimanded herself as she jumped into the well. She grunted softly as her feet came in contact with the bottom of the well, and closed her eyes as she waiting for the sinking dizzy feeling that meant she was going home. She waited......and waited......and waited....and still nothing. She stomped her feet against the ground, softly at first, and then harder as visions of souta and her mother began to enter her mind. "No!" She cried as she began to jump harder. "Why isn't it working?" Out of reflex her hand went to grab at the jewel that normally hung around her neck. It wasn't there. Of course it wasn't there, she had wished upon it, but the well had let her through before, why wouldn't it now?

Kagome collapsed into a sloppy sitting postion at the bottom of the well, her tears stinging her eyes again, as the realization began to hit her. 'How could I have been so stupid? So careless?' She berated herself. What had her wish been? "I wish there was a way to make this work without hurting Inu Yasha." She recalled through broken sobs. "What a clumsy stupid girl I am." She cried out bitterly through her tears. 'Of course the well let me back through,'she continued to weep through her thoughts, 'if I had never returned .....it would have hurt him.' Her sobs became painful as the irony of the situation squeezed at her heart. Her own selfless actions had now trapped her in this place, away from her family, for the rest of her life. Not once did she think of her own wants and desires, and now because of this, she would pay the ultimate price. She leaned back against the inside of the well, her sobbing now gentle wimpers as she stared off into the abyss of despair.

He had been headed back to the beach when he picked up her scent. He began to follow it and found that it was laced with sorrow. 'What could have upset her so?' Sesshoumaru asked himself as he began to hasten his pace in her direction. He knew his half brother had his faults, but he had never seen him do anything to Kagome that would bring on this ......intense saddness that he picked up from her now. The sun would not rise for several hours and he had just finished up his border patrols. Every demon he came across could see and hear him which meant the severity of the spell was restricted to Inu Yasha and Kagome's friends. 'That I can tolerate.' He thought.

Sesshoumaru paused as he entered a clearing. Even in the pitch blackness of night his keen eyesight could easily pick out the well that took Kagome to her time, and had indirectly been responsible for their relationship. He could hear her now. Her sobs were gentle yet disturbing, like those of a broken woman. He stopped by the well and looked down. There she was, his Kagome, in the bottom of the blackness, stareing off into nothing. "Kagome..." He whispered as he attempted to get her attention. "Kagome." He repeated himself more firmly when she didn't answer him.

Kagome looked up at him, her eyes so swollen from her tears that she could not see who it was against the backdrop of black. It was his voice that gave him away. "Sess - houmaru?" She questioned with a hiccup as she tried to push back her tears.

Without hesitation he jumped down beside her, crouching down so that he could run a comforting clawed hand against her face. "Why are you down here?" He asked softly as he ran the back of one of his fingers against the softness of her cheek.

"I did it..." She choked out as the tears began to consume her words again. "It was me.... I wasn't thinking. ....and now Mama....Oh souta!..." She sobbed harder.

She wasn't making sense. He could tell something was very wrong but he needed her to calm down. He moved closer still in his crouched position and held her face gently in his hand, placing small kisses on her cheeks and chin. She closed her eyes and took in a soft shakey breath as he did this, calming the emotions that threaten to boil over once more.

"The well...." She began a little more calmly. "It doesn't work anymore....not without the Shiko-no-tama."

He raised an eyebrow that suggested he still did not understand.

"The wish, " She continued as she recognized the question behind his eyes. "I didn't want Inu Yasha hurt..." She felt the tears threaten to fall again as the consequences of her wish fell heavy on her heart once more.

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding and scooped her up in his arms, gently pulling a strand of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear, before picking up her bag and throwing it over his shoulder.

She buried herself into his chest and sighed softly. "Where are we going?" She asked bleakly.

"Home." Was his simple reply as they began to rise and take off towards the western lands.

"I don't have a home." She replied grimly.

He looked down at the woman he cradled in his arms and lovingly stroked the side of her face with his thumb. "You do." He answered simply causing her to smile despite her despair. "You should sleep." He responded in a monotone voice as he again looked straight forward, craddling her body against his.

She didn't answer him. She didn't need to. Every muscle in her body agreed with him. She sighed softly again as she leaned into him, closing her eyes from exhaustion and easily fell into a deep sleep.


Kagome opened her eyes hesitantly as the light that beamed in through a window threatened to blind her. "Ow...." She groaned groggily as she woke up on top of many soft blankets.

"Good morning." Sesshoumaru answered in a cool tone, his face abscurd by the glare from the open window.

"Where are we." Kagome questioned as she began to dig herself out from under the large pile of blankets she seemed to be buried under.

"Home." He answered again as he got up to close the window, pulling the curtains shut to block out the sun.

"Who's home?" She questioned as she slowly came to her senses. "Yours?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow as she realized she was naked underneath the covers and pulled them back around her. "Um.....Where are my clothes?"

Sesshoumaru smiled and crouched beside her as she wrapped the blanket firmly around her breasts. "They were worn and tattered from your journey." He explained. " I had them thrown out."

"Okay......" She asked hesitantly. "Where's my bag?"

"I placed it in the closet that adjoins the main room." He commented in a monotone voice as he began to stroke the side of her face again with the back of his claws.

She smirked and quirked a brow in his direction as again he gave her limited information. "You know...if I pull these covers up and find my legs in shackles,"she quipped" I will NOT be amused." She shuddered as a low rumble of laughter shook loose from his broad chest.

"You are not a prisoner here." He spoke softly as he leaned in and placed a small kiss upon her cheek, causing her eyes to flutter shut momentarily.

"Then what am I?" She spoke softly with a hidden question in her words.

He smiled at her, letting a lazy clawed finger run delicately across her full lips. "You are home." He answered in the same soft tone.

Kagome grabbed his finger in her hand, quirking an amused eyebrow as she captured his gaze. "Am I allowed to wear clothes at my new home?"

He smirked as he ran his other hand under the covers that she had wrapped around her body, finding the soft flesh of her calf and slowly working its way up, causing her to shiver. "If you must." He quipped as he slowly inhaled her scent.

"I must..." She answered softly before releasing his finger and pulling away.

His cold gaze fell upon her as she retreated from his touch. Those eyes reminded her so much of the cold and desolate place they had found each other. They seemed so dead and empty inside now, now that she had seen the warmth, and the careing, and the love that was hidden deep beneath.

"I'm sorry." She began. "I just...."

He stopped her, rising to his feet. "I would prefer that you wear something a little more appropriate while a guest in my home." He began in his cold monotone voice as he walked past her and opened a closet she had not noticed before. "These were given to me by my servants upon hearing you will be staying. You may keep what you like." He stated flatly as he grabbed a random Kimono from the closet and threw it over to her.

"Thank you." She whispered softly as she grabbed the Kimono up off the floor and held it up against her. "It's very kind of you." She whipsered again as she kept her eyes focused on the floor affraid to meet his gaze.

"Once you are dressed," he began, seemingly ignoring her responce, " I will show you the manor. The servants will be busy setting up your room for the better part of the day, and I would request that you not disturb them until they have finished."

"M-my room?" She flinched as his cold words began to bite at her heart.

Again he continued to explain and did not answer her question. "The servants here have served Youkai for many years. I would suggest that you leave them to preform their duties and not hassle them with questions while you are here."

"O-of course." She stammered again.

" I will leave you so that you may dress." He stated blandly as he left the room, the door closing loudly behind him.

Kagome sighed heavily as the door sounded. She had felt his anger before, but not this. This was....she didn't know. Never had he been so cold to her since they had been together. She almost longed for the days when he would lose his temper. Slowly, she crawled out from under the covers, and slipped the soft fabric of the Kimono over her warm and smooth skin. She sighed softly as she thought about having to face the cold again. How many people would she hurt because of her stupid heart?

A soft knock on the door pulled her once again from her ever darkening thoughts. "Sesshoumaru-Sama?" A little voice squeaked.

"Uh no....This is Kagome." Kagome answered as she eyed the door suspiciously.

"May Rin enter?" The little voice beckoned from behind the door.

"Uh...yes...please come in." Kagome answered as she realized the voice behind the door was that of a small girl.

"Good morning Kagome-san!" The little girl beamed.

Kagome could not help but smile at the strange little girls enthusiasm. "Are you looking for Sesshoumaru?" She questioned as crouched down so that they were both at the same level.

"Hai!" Rin answered. "Sesshoumaru-sama has been gone for a long time." She commented as a soft pout sprouted across her small face.

Kagome smiled as she extended a hand to the small girl. "How bout we go find him?"

"Hai!" Rin exclaimed as she placed her hand in Kagome's.

Kagome couldn't help but smile. Again her preconcieved notions of Sesshoumaru being a cold and heartless demon seemed to have been ill concieved. She remembered, vaguely, the first time she saw Rin with Sesshoumaru. She recalled it as seeming odd, but seeing as how their paths did not cross that much it easily got left behind in the jumbled of demons, jewel shards, and Naraku. Her heart ached as she glanced at the window and realized Inu Yasha must be looking for her by now. 'Maybe it would be better this way.' She thought. 'Maybe I could find my answers here.'

"Come on Kagome-san!" Rin exclaimed as she tugged on Kagome's hand.

Kagome laughed. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" She replied with amusment as she let the little girl drag her down the hall.

"Sesshoumaru-sama." A familar voice beckoned while Sesshoumaru stood in the garden of his manor.

"I'm here Rin" Sesshoumaru answered as he lowered his head to avoid a low hanging branch.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Squealed the young girl as she pulled Kagome along behind her, releasing her hand once she was could wrap her small arms around Sesshoumaru's legs. "Welcome home Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin cherped.

Kagome wrapped her arms around herself and smiled, blushing timidly as she watched the small girl hug Sesshoumaru. "She was looking for you." She explained with a soft expression.

"I see." Sesshoumaru replied in a smooth voice. "Rin." He stated in an authorative tone causing the girl to stand at attention. "Go play with Jakan. I have promised to show Kagoma the manor."

"Hai! Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin exclaimed as she quickly ran back inside.

Kagome giggled, "She's quite a little soldier."

Sesshoumaru smirked only momentarily before letting his features harden again. "Follow me." He commanded in his monotone voice once more, leading Kagome through the garden as they began the tour of the manor.


They had gone through several rooms with barely a word exchanged between them. They had reached the main room and were on their way back to his personal chambers when she stopped him at the door. Her hand resting against his bicep. "Sesshoumaru..." She began, quietly, as she slowly worked up the courage to speak. She had decided several minutes ago that she would prefer to have him yell at her then bare the cold of his stare any longer. "Please don't do this." She pleaded as she moved so that she was standing in front of him.

"Do what?" He replied emotionlessly.

"Sesshoumaru..." She whispered softly as she placed a hand against his perfect face, causing him to shiver. "Please...if I've done something to hurt you...." she sighed " I can't stand to see...."

Her words were lost as he pressed his lips to hers desperately, pinning her against the door to his chambers. Immediately she returned his affections, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with a passion she didn't know she could feel. So much had gone wrong, in such a short time. She needed to feel, and needed to be touched. Through his desperate kisses she felt as if she could feel the pain, the need, the longing that he never let himself express. She began to slowly drown in these feelings of desperation and need, wimpering into his mouth and pushing against his chest as she came up for air.

He reluctantly broke the kiss, as he continued to press his body against hers.

"Sesshoumaru..." She began again softly, "I just need some time...I think, "she extended her hand and began to lightly stroke his face as she spoke. "I'm so confused right now.....I"

He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, lightly sighing as he enjoyed the brief contact. Slowly, he opened his eyes, which were once again soft with emotion. "Come." He commanded as he released her from the wall and took her hand smirking lightly. "You have not eaten."

Kagome let her fingers intertwine with his as they walked slowly to the dining area of the manor. For the first time since she discovered the well would no longer take her home, she felt as if things might be okay.