Captive Soul

Untitled


Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters


A/N: There will be switching of views placed at different times throughout
the chapter. Some views will be overlaping scenes, remember and keep in mind.

Ras. ^_^

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chapter 38: To kneel


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Rin turned to Kagome who was crouching and taking items out of a large leather
bag. "We are ready, Sis. Tell us what to do."


Kagome glanced up from her crouched position. "Sesshomaru will have to kneel.
You will have to stand in front of him."


Rin looked up to Sesshomaru, finding his amber gaze centered only on her.
The wind had died down to a gentle breeze. Now it only played with his silvery
bangs, brushing them ss tss the blue crescent moon on his temple.

Thunder echoed in the distance.


Slowly, ever so slowly, the inu youkai lowered to one knee then the other,
never averting his eyes from hers. As he knelt on the cobblestones, his
dark amber gaze embraced her, holding her to him, a turmoil of emotion within
their depths that did not reach the expressionless mask of his features.


This one lone action bothered Rin. For Sesshomaru to kneel like this pulled
at her heart. He was such a proud creature, one that had been broken and
made to serve. Now, the chains that held his spirit were broken and he
was being made to kneel once more, but this time he was falling to his knees
in the presence of his brother, the one person he never wanted....to see him...
like this.


Rin stepped forward until she was directly in front of him. They were almost
eye level, his slightly lower. She gave him a little smile, hoping it
would soften the situation as well as calm the slight nervous feeling rising
in her stomach. "Okay, Kagome."

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He knew Rin was worried about him but he needed to be alone for awhile.

To think and....to feel.


This...Love...Rin had for him. The human emotion. When he was younger, his
father had told him demons did not feel the same as humans. Ties
to mates were equally as strong, but humans possessed an emotion for their mate
that was almost unattainable for a demon. His father had spoken earnestly, saying
that humans, in a way, were stronger than demons in that respect. At the time,
he had scoffed at his father's insight. The thought of humans being stronger
than demons in any aspect was most absurd.

But now, as he stood amidst the swirling wind and swaying flowers, he held on to
this incredible feeling. The more he embraced it, the more it strengthened
his spirit. He nevanteanted to let it go and somehow, deep down inside, he knew
its presence would never leave him.


If this presence, this...emotion...
for Rin...was Love...then his father had been right.


It was powerful...


...and eternal.


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His senses suddenly honed.

His brother was here.

His brother.

Sesshomaru could not stop the pull in his chest.

So his brother was here.

His brother...knew.

He had suspected that Inuyasha might haven ien informed of his subjugation, but the
blatant reality of actually realizing that fact was still a shock.


His brother knew, and he did not want to see that knowledge in his brother's
eyes.

He did not want his brother to see him...this way.


But as he was, still a servant, still a slave, he could not do anything about it.

As he was...

he was helpless.


A silent sigh escaped him. He had to face this...shame. With this new
strength he could do it. With Rin's love, he could stand up against it.
This...presence...would give him...courage.

Rin and Kagome were coming.

It was coming, he could feel it. His freedom.


Sesshomaru waited. Rin appeared with Kagome and Inuyasha following. The ancient
smell of fire rat fur laced the drafts of restless wind. His half-brother was
wearing his fire rat garment. Unbelievable. The hanyou had kept it all these
years.


Rin stopped beside him. "Sess, it's time."


Sesshomaru could not help the irritation at seeing his brother. This irritation
prompted a harsh response. "What is he doing here?"


Almost immediately, he regretted the sharpness of the question directed at his
future mate for she peered up at him with deep brown pools, silently asking
him not to be too angry while relating the reason for Inuyasha's presence.


Kagome had agreed.


Sesshomaru allowed a spurt of annoyance. "Very well."


He switched his attention from the darkening clouds, lowering his gaze to Rin.

His beautiful Rin smiled softly. "Are you ready?"


"Yes."


Rin drew in a deep breath. "We are ready, Sis, tell us what to do."


Kagome, who was taking items out of a leather satchel and placing them on
the brown cobblestones, glanced up at Rin. "Sesshomaru will have to kneel.
You will have to stand in front of him."

Sesshomaru went rigid. He would have to...kneel..in front of...Inuyasha.


Battling the humiliation, he consciously locked his eyes with Rin's brown ones.
there, he held on. There, he found the strength. Slowly, he lowered to one
knee then the other. This would be his last act of subjugation, the last
time he would kneel before his master.


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Inuyasha followed Rin and Kagome through the house.
Rin pushed the sliding glass door back then stepped out. Kagome
trailed behind. He brought up the rear, stepping outside, closing the glass
patio door in the process.

A sudden gust of warm wind took them by surprise. Inuyasha saw Rin pause for a
moment before continuing down the cobblestone pathway.


Wind whistled through the trembling flowers and rustled the leaves in a large
oak creaking in the distance. They came upon the tall regal stance of his
half-brother. Sesshomaru was silently standing, gazing upward to the chaos
of the approaching storm. He did not acknowledge their arrival but did talk
to Rin: one sentence said it all. Yep, he had been right. Sesshomaru did not
want him there.

Rin gazed up at his half-brother apologetically, informing Sesshomaru why
he was there.


Sesshomaru had yet to look at him. Knowing how his brother was, he would
probably not even glance his way unless there was a warranted reason.


Kagome crouched and began pulling items out of the large leather satchel
she had brought. On the rounded stones the miko placed a large wooden bowl,
a clear glass vial containing what appeared to be water, and several small
leather pouches. His sense of smell informed him the small pouches contained
herbs. One item in particular caught his attention: a small wooden box, big
enough to fit in the palm of his hand and covered with a demon seal.


Rin asked her sister what they needed to do and Kagome replied by instructing
Rin that Sesshomaru should kneel and that Rin needed to stand in front of him.


Inuyasha tried to smell what Sesshomaru was feeling but the sporadic gusts
of wind only gave him a hint. That one hint bore the whisper of shame coupled
with determination, hope..and...


another...emotion.

This emotion? From Sesshomaru?


Unless his sense of smell was deceiving him, this emotion could only be....love.

Then, Inuyasha saw the one sight he thought he would never see in his entire
life:

Sesshomaru, the future Lord of the Westerlands,

slowly lowering to his knees.


His brother was kneeling before a weak human girl.

Again, Kagome's movements caught his eye. He looked down at the miko crouching
a few feet in front of him. She was now holding that small box. He focused
intently as Kagome tore off the demon seal and opened it. Immediately,
he felt the power: a wave of pure spiritual energy bursting forth, a thunderous
ripple spreading outward, rushing over his spirit, tempting his demon instincts
almost over the edge of reason.


Inuyasha gulped, amazed at the feeling while Kagome picked up a pink jeweled
ball. As she pulled it out, a long gold chain came with it, sparkling with
bright bluish clear diamond shards. Every muscle in his body tensed when his
demon side screamed to be heard. That demon part of him really wanted that ball,
that pinkish jewel pulsing with eternal power, power that could make him a full
demon.


He closed his eyes and steadied himself, centering everything on his human side,
knowing he could not let his demon half rise at a time like this. When he
opened his eyes, Kagome was standing behind Rin, placing the Shikon no Tama
around her sister's neck.

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Kagome straightened from her crouched position then stepped over to Rin who
was standing in front of Sesshomaru. Delicately, she placed the Jewel of
Four Souls around her sister's neck. "Rin, I will recite the protection
prayer now. When I place my hands on your shoulders, I want you to think of
something you love dearly. Hold on to that image and feeling."


"Okay, Kagome."

Kagome smiled and grasped Rin's warm shoulders. Strong words of power
fell from her lips in a whispered chant. With every word, the Shikon no Tama
glowed with power of purity. The glow brightened in intensity until it
flashed a blinding blink of light. Kagome finished the prayer spell and backed
up from Rin.


Squatting, Kagome took each small leather pouch and, one by one, poured the
powdered herbs in the large wooden bowl. Next, she picked up the glass vial of
holy water and poured it over the crushed powdery green mixture. A woodsy
fragrance, something akin to the scent of forest pine, sweetened the air.
Kagome picked up a wooden spoon and stirred the ingredients until it was
the consistency of watery pea soup. When she was sure the herbs were properly
blended, Kagome walked over to Rin and Sesshomaru.
Their eyes were locked on to each other in an unwavering gaze.


Kagome cleared her throat. "Rin."


Rin blinked, slowly switching her attention to her. "Yes, Kagome?"


She smiled at her younger sister. "We need your blood now. Sesshomaru
must brandish his claws so you can run your palms across them. After you
do this, place your hands in the herbal mixture. Blend your blood in it
with your fingers."


Kagome addressed the kneeling dog demon. "Sesshomaru."


The inu youkai's golden gaze remained fixed on Rin. "Yes."

"If the collar chooses to punish you for Rin's wounds, you must try your
best to remain upright so Rin can place her hands on the restraint. I know
it might be hard, but you must try."

Sesshomaru blinked once. "I understand."


Giving a brief nod, Kagome backed up until she was about ten feet behind Rin. Inuyasha's
steps moved closer in, not too far behind. After a long soul-centering breath,
Kagome began. Ancient words floated on the wind. They came with ease. Each
word left her lips saturated with power, power that came from the deepest
and brightest part of her soul.


In the middle of the ancient chant, Kagome called Rin's name.

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Rin swallowed heavily as Kagome walked behind her. She lowered her gaze,
her attention falling on Sesshomaru's....claws.....Her eyes widened. They
looked so...sharp. No longer did his fingernails appear as normal human
blunt nails, but were now elongated to extremely pointed deadly tips.
She raised her hands up, placing them directly under the lethal talons.
While looking back at Sesshomaru, she heard Kagome begin.

The words were foreign but somehow Rin knew their meaning in her heart.

As Kagome continued the chant, the wind diminished and the thunder ebbed to
a mere mumble among the slowing clouds. The air became alive with the faintest
of glows, resembling the luminance from the full moon. The phosphorescent tint
seemed to settle on everything around them, a ghostly blanket of magical snow.
This blanket sprinkled whispery stars of light on Sesshomaru's hair,
highlighting the bluish gray strands to a brilliant pearly silver. The
twinkling sparkles bounced gently, reflecting in his amber depths before falling
silently to the ground.


Rin blinked out from the iridescent wonder just in time to hear Kagome call
her name.

Still locked within Sesshomaru's dark honeyed gaze, Rin sucked in a breath and
braced herself.


In one swift motion, she raked her palms across the sharp claws.

Rin hissed and looked down.


Bright red gashes, oozing blood, lined her palms.


Gritting her teeth, Rin quickly kneeled and placed her hands in the herbal
mixture. Instantly, the pain vanished.

Immediately, she looked up to Sesshomaru.

A few small drops of blood dripped from the tips of his claws, plopping
to the stones by his knees, staining the white material he wore with tiny
dots of scarlet.


Darkening amber pools observed with guarded concern.

He seemed not to be in any pain.

Relief washed over her and she relaxed. Suddenly, Rin realized one of the reasons
she had been so nervous. She had been scared the collar would hurt him.

Utterly relieved, Rin began concentrating on the task at hand. The
watery balm squished between her fingers as she blended her red blood into the
dark green mix, creating a murky brownish gel which clung to the skin, coating
her hands. The potent fragrance of forest herbs wafted up, filling her sense
of smell. Kagome's chant rushed like the sound of the sea, amplifying in her
mind, almost drowning out all other thought.

Determined, Rin stood.

Slowly, she reached out, focusing on the black metal restraint around
Sesshomaru's neck. Just as her fingers
nearly touched the shiny black metal, a strange feeling welled up inside,
a protective light of sensation, giving her...strength.

In one single instant, Rin grasped the restraint with both hands. The metal
was cold and the feel, slippery. Her hands slid over the smooth surface as
she struggled to acquire a secure hold.

Rin fretted, the slickness hindering her efforts. She let out a whimper while
trying harder, willing her fingers to find a solid grip. Finally, her hands
molded around the choker: fingers in the space between his warm neck and the
flat inner lining, palms against the outside surface, thumbs hooking the
top edge.


Now confident, Rin waited.

Kagome had told her to wait for a vibration. Once it started, she was to pull
outward as hard as she could with the intention to break it.


Somewhat entranced by Kagome's rhythmic chanting, Rin slid her attention
back up to the dark amber eyes and unreadable features mere inches from
her nose.


She gave a small smile, speaking without words, 'Don't worry, Love. I've got it.'


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It took me a while but I finally got these upcoming scenes fixed in
my mind. I guess this could be considered a cliffy. I know how much my
readers love cliffys. *looks around sheepishly. "Heh heh" sweatdrops*
Hope all who read enjoyed.


Thanks to everyone that reviewed!

Kimeko

ARacquer

Mules: Yep, everythings good here. ^_^ will definitely be in chat friday.
9 central.


Riomi: Okay, okay, I might consider fixing that...mmmmm...puppies...lol


Reiku: Alright, She fixed him with magic and with some physical *ahem* surgery.
She did not castrate him
The restraint was already on him at the time. It is tied to it in a way.
Sesshomaru's demon energy has been syphoned for the last five hundred years
by the collar. Once it returns (if it happens that way, if he is freed) there
may be some leeway where his demonic energy can heal him. I am seriously
thinking of explaining that occurence in detail with a side story of some
sort. hmmmm....

Diane: I posted chapter 37 right before christmas. It has been about 3 weeks
since I posted. chapter 39 and 40 will be out in the next few days. Ras.

liberatedmysterygirl

Taiki: *grins*


Blue Saiyan Angel: heya, I also post this fic on Fanfiction.net.

Mija: ^_-. Glad you like the Inu and Kag fluffyness. I am trying not to go too
deep with the fluff until their story is started.

Rhiannonencourages: that may happen. ^_^

dragonflyelj: Yep! champane all around! over 10,000 hits woo hoo!

Delkaiden: that muse must be kicken to come up with goodbyes and hello again.
loved it.

KhellendrostheDragon

New Fan: hmmm, lets just say, something big might gain the evil mikos attention.


tigers_eye: that was a toughy for me. I think it came out a little corny but
hey. *shrugs* it's fantasy romance.


Hentai Jane: Yea, I am going to write one with Kagome and
Inuyasha. I have got to see how this one pans out first. Plot and all ya know.
I like your newest fic with Kag and Inu. about kikyo,
I think a lot of people want to see that, hmmm
gotta find a place to write that in....thinking.....

aya_rei

VampireMiyu: I was thinking I could'nt pull it off but I think I have.
good old sesshy is back only a little different concerning affairs of
the heart.

Youkai Mistress: thanks for the well written compliment, I try. ^_^.