Battle of wills.

Kagome was warm. She sighed happily and she snuggled against the soft warm fur that tickled her nose and played against her fingers. She was awaken by a low growl and opened her eyes. Sesshoumaru lay in front of her, her body completely entangled in his. Slowly she recalled the events of the previous night. ‘How had all this happened?’ she questioned herself. She had loved Inu Yasha for so long that the idea of her being with anyone else seemed impossible. However, here she was, lying with Sesshoumaru, a peaceful expression on his face. Her heat ached. ‘What happens when we go back?’ She slowly began to stroke the demon lord’s fur as she pondered a million different scenarios. Her thoughts were interrupted as Sesshoumaru stirred next to her.

Sesshoumaru opened in his and turned to the small girl within his arms. “Good morning.” He whispered as he lightly kissed her forehead.

She smiled weakly, “Good morning.”

He could see the concern hiding behind her weak smile. “Are you all right?

“Fine, fine.” She lied.

Sesshoumaru gave her an irritated look.

Kagome sighed realizing how unconvinced she was and laid her head against his chest. “I was just thinking.” She whispered softly.

He grinned slightly, “Ah…I see.”

She glared back at him playfully. “I was thinking about us…and what happens when we get back.” She sighed again as she laid her head against him.

“Obviously I will lock you in a small room in the Castle of the Western Lands to ravage you as I see fit.” He stated in a monotone voice.

Kagome pushed herself up to give him a startled look, letting it melt from her face as she could see the smirk once again upon his face. “You think you’re awfully cute don’t you?”

“I assure you, you will be well cared for.” He continued, attempting to distract her from the seriousness of her previous thoughts. “Bathed regularly….”

Kagome slapped a hand over his mouth, biting back a giggle. “I’m trying to be serious here.”

Sesshoumaru nodded as Kagome slowly removed her hand from his mouth. “You are concerned for the Hanyou.” He stated staring off into the distance, hurt in obvious in his voice.

Kagome grabbed his chin, “I’m concerned for you both. I don’t want to hurt either one of you.” She sighed heavily, “I should have thought things through first, before…..”

Sesshoumaru slide out of the sleeping bag and stood up forcefully, “You regret?” he began.

“No, no, no!” She waved her hands reassuringly, “It’s just, I’m unsure how to handle this….situation.”

He bought himself down to kneel beside her, allowing his gaze to soften as he brought her face up to meet his. “I do not regret.” He stated firmly, “and I will rejoice the moments we are together, no matter how few.”

Kagome smiled up at him, his soft words burning a hole in her chest. She reached up to his face, stroking it lightly. “Why didn’t I see this before?”

He smiled down at her, nuzzling his face against her palm, purring lightly. “We should continue our search.”

Kagome nodded and released him as he went to tend the fire to warm her clothing. She watched him as he walked along the frozen ground. “Aren’t you cold?” She questioned.

“My body does not succumb to such things as a human’s would.” He answered matter-of-factly as he began to start the fire.

She stared at him as his extremities turned a light shade of blue. “What about the first time you went scouting?” she questioned.

He smiled down at the fire, “I simply did not want to interrupt you.”

Kagome gave him a playful glare. “You mean you let me carry on like that…..”

Sesshoumaru grinned back her, “I tried to tell you.”

“You didn’t stop me.” She huffed.

“I didn’t want to be rude.” He smirked.

Kagome grinned and rolled onto her back, staring up at the sky. She grinned lightly as she rolled her eyes at him. “I should have known.”


*****************************Meanwhile, in feudal era Japan**********


A grumpy hanyou paced back and forth outside the well. “Where is she?” he growled. “If I had known she’d been this late I would have never let her leave.” He had been pacing all morning before he finally let his own fears and doubts get the better of him and he quickly jumped into the well. He drifted through the familiar purple haze until he reached the other side. He looked up verifying his location. He was indeed in Kagome’s time. He jumped out of the well and looked around, sniffing the air around him.

‘Kagome has definitely not been here for a long time.’ He thought as he examined the doors of the shrine, which were now covered in cobwebs. ‘But her scent in my world ….she HAD gone through the well.’ He sat on the lip of the well as he pondered what could have happened. As he did this his eyes caught a glint of light reflecting on something that lay on the bottom of the well. He crawled down slowly as he investigated, making sure not to touch the bottom so that he would not be sent back to feudal era Japan. He clung to the sides of the well as he unburied the small object lodged in the corner of the well. His eyes grew wide as he lifted it from the soil. “Shiko-no-tama?”

Inu Yasha grasped the small jewel into his hand and jumped back into the well, once again surrounded by the swirling purple haze. ‘Why had the jewel ended up in Kagome’s time without Kagome?’

He returned to his time quickly and fingered the jewel as he attempto fio figure out how this could happen. He sat on the lip of the well, now in his time, deep in thought. The jewel was definitely linked to the well somehow, and as long as either he or Kagome held on to even just a piece of it they were able to slip back and forth between their worlds. He silently wished he had a way to send it to her and bring her back to feudal Japan. He clutched the small stone in his hand and held it against his chest as he did this, causing it to pulse. He stood in amazement as the small jewel ripped from his hands and tumbled back through the well. He stared into the well as the jewel disappeared holding his breath.

**************Back in the barren waste land*****************

Kagome slowly dressed in front of Sesshoumaru, her shyness fading more quickly then she had anticipated. She pretended not to notice as he stared at her intently, taking in her beautiful body. She smiled at him once she had finished tying the clothes around her body. “Which direction do we try today?”

He smiled back at her and opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing. His eyes seem to stare at something on the horizon over her shoulder and Kagome turned in the direction.

A small glint of light seemed to be approaching them from the east very rapidly. Kagome walked over to Sesshoumaru, hiding her body partially behind his. “What is it?” she questioned in a small voice.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. “I cannot be certain.”

They both stared intently as the object approached them in a straight path. Its pace seemed to slow as it approached them and then finally stopped to hover barely above the small girls frame. “Shiko-no-tama.” She whispered as she examined it. Slowly the small ball of light descended into the girl’s outstretched hand. “But how?”

Sesshoumaru nodded in the direction it had just traveled, picking the girl up in his arms. His pace just as furious as the jewel’s had been, causing Kagome to snuggle deeply into his chest. The wind whipped around them furiously as they pushed on. Kagome fingered the small jewel in amazement as she allowed everything to sink in. IT had found her. How? She sighed heavily, realizing just how very little she actually knew about the precious stone.

They moved through the air for what seemed hours. Kagome could feel Sesshoumaru’s pace slow as they traveled finding only more ice. ‘Good.’ She found herself thinking. She placed a hand over her mouth afraid she had said it out loud. Guilt built up in her chest as she realized she had been hoping they wouldn’t find the way home. She secretly wanted to stay in this place, with Sesshoumaru, at least for a little while longer. Why was it when everything seemed to make sense that she was always thrown back into chaos?

Her thoughts were broken abruptly as Sesshoumaru let out a short rumble from his chest. Kagome looked to the ground. There, directly underneath them, was the well. They descended to its location, both approaching it cautiously. Sesshoumaru fixed his eyes on Kagome, studying her face as she ran her hand along the edge of the ancient wood.

“It’s in this time too….” She muttered in shock.

Sesshoumaru nodded sagely, “If it can transcend time, it should itself, be timeless.”


“So this is the way home then.” She remarked, giving Sesshoumaru a questioning look. “So now we go home?”

Sesshoumaru nodded at her, “It is what we have been searching for.”

Kagome sighed. She didn’t want to go home, not now, not after all that had happened. Why did this always happen to her. Why wouldn’t the gods simply allow her life to be uncomplicated even for a moment?

“Kagome,” Sesshoumaru grabbed her shoulder, as he could see the doubt in her eyes. “I meant what I said. I have no regrets, and I will treasure every moment we are together, even if….” He trailed off staring at the well.

Kagome closed her eyes, summoning every ounce of courage she had left within her being as she grabbed Sesshoumaru’s hand. “Then let’s go.”

They jumped into the well together as they were again surrounded by the purple haze she had grown so accustom to. She could feel Sesshoumaru’s hand wrap around her waist and tighten and they fell. She opened her eyes as she felt her feet come in contact with solid ground. Sesshoumaru sniffed and made a disgusted face, “This is not Feudal Japan.”

Kagome looked up and smiled as her eyes took in a familiar sight. “We’re inside the shrine.” She grinned. “I’m home!” She looked at the demon lord, happiness pouring from every pore.

“Then we are in your time?” He questioned as he slowly let his hands release the small girl.

She grinned, “Looks like it.” Kagome grabbed at the ladder on the side of the well, climbing out. Sesshoumaru watched from underneath her as she climbed for a moment, before leaping out him self and offering her a hand. She gladly accepted it and walked over to the shrine doors. She beamed at him as she pulled them open. She WAS home.

Kagome wrapped her arms around Sesshoumaru in elation, giggling into his chest. Sesshoumaru in turn wrapped his arms around her, lightly stroking her hair. She looked up at him and smiled. “Would you like to see my time?”

Sesshoumaru eyed her slightly before answering, “Very well.”