Near her porch steps, Sesshoumaru stood, no less formidable in broad daylight than he’d been in the midst of his demonic maelstrom. Even with his youki concealed, she could feel the cold fury radiating off him as he stared her down, and though momentarily caught off-guard by the vehemence of it, Kagome’s hackles rose to match it nevertheless.
“Sesshoumaru,” she seethed. “You have some nerve—”
“What were you thinking,” he cut ruthlessly in, “dragging my ward into a throng of bandits?”
Like a blade of ice to the throat, his condemnation sliced straight through her own heated admonitions, bringing Kagome up drastically short. Flushing in indignation, she snapped her mouth shut and drew herself back together again.
“They were mercenaries, not bandits,” she said, clipped and tinny. “And I had everything under control.”
“Under control,” Sesshoumaru said lowly, stepping toward her.
Steeling her jaw, Kagome stood her ground against him. “That’s right.”
Entirely too close, the demon lord stopped just before her, peering down. “Are you a fool? I could scent Rin’s distress from miles away, rolling off of her thick as smoke.”
Kagome glanced coolly aside. “An overreaction, that’s all—you know her past history as well as I do.”
“You should heed it, then,” Sesshoumaru rumbled, looming. Against her will, Kagome recoiled, the sound of his growl rolling like muted thunder through her bones. “Two women alone, surrounded by marauders. A powerful priestess you may be, but these were not demons—and I saw how they were looking at you both. Those men would tear you apart.”
Kagome’s eyes flashed, her lip curling in disdain. “I guess you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?”
At this bitter reproach, Sesshoumaru drew back from her the slightest fraction. But it was enough. Briskly, the miko side-stepped him and continued up the porch. Even if she couldn’t harm those men with her power, the fact that she could temporarily blind or confuse them with it remained locked behind her gritted teeth. She didn’t need to justify herself to the likes of him.
It was a sentiment that burned hotter still as she pushed back the noren curtain only to find him blocking the threshold of her home. A vein pulsed in Kagome’s temple, even though she should have known…
“Go away,” she snapped, her reiki flaring on contact as she was forced to shoulder past him. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore—I don’t want to talk to you ever again.”
To her unending ire, Sesshoumaru scoffed. “What have I done to you now?”
The miko whirled, her hands balling to fists as she hissed out, “You know what you did, you son of a bitch.”
Soundlessly, Sesshoumaru approached her. His features were edged in shadow, his mirrored eyes glowing amid the low light of the coals.
“And what,” he said, “was that?”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Didn’t think I was gonna get an update out today, but this one just seemed to write itself 😉
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Sesshomaru at his intimidating, bullying best…is it time for a showdown between these two? Long overdue, methinks…
Haha yeah he’s a bully alright XD
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oh my God, so many thoughts!
First, I LOVE IT when they’re at odds– the tension is mortifying and also I’m like YEAH KAGOME YOU HATE ON HIM (but like, I won’t mind it when the hate!tension turns into more sex, lol). Sesshoumaru is just so wonderfully in character– he WOULD cut her down as a fool, and I appreciate that although Kagome might secretly realize that he’s right and that she did take a risk, on the other hand, no way is she going to let him of all people cut her down.
This whole interlude has brought up something I’ve been mulling over for a couple of weeks now… it’s interesting that while Kagome is so fantastically powerful– perhaps Sesshoumaru’s only equal in power, or at least, the only one capable of surviving him (/ending him if she ever really tried to do it?), she can only really use that power on demons. She’s pretty defenseless when it comes to humans.
On the other hand, it seems to me that as a priestess Kagome really did not have a choice but to go out and save those men from the fly demons. Like, no matter the danger to herself, she seems morally bound/obligated to save human lives from demons whensoever it is in her power to do so. I appreciate that while Sesshoumaru might have reminded Kagome of her role as a leader within the village during her “dark days,” he cannot really understand what her true obligations as a head priestess entail– he would have her stick close to the village and remain safely ensconced where possible (well, I suppose except for Hirokin’s testing of her, but I have the sense that he’s never too far from those battlefields/I bet he would interfere if push came to shove) and of course, she can’t. Rin’s hesitation here was interesting, and while it makes sense that she would be afraid and Sesshoumaru would side with her, it read to me as her not having quite committed to all of the sacrifices being a priestess would actually entail– primarily, service to others at risk/cost to her own safety, health, and even happiness. Anyway, just an interesting facet that I think Kagome does embrace, as it gives her life meaning after Inuyasha’s death, that I do not think Sesshoumaru truly understands about her. (wow this comment got out of control, but alack! your fics really get me pondering!)
You expressed so many of the things I was thinking but couldn’t find a way to say. Thanks!
Omg I love it!! Thanks so much for taking the time to lay out all your thoughts! <3
Haha, yeah Sess & Kags being at odds is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine XD Glad you're enjoying the tension!! 🙂 And it's awesome to hear that Sesshoumaru is in character here - he's not the easiest guy to write...!
Kagome's sense of obligation is real, and much of this story to me has been a meditation on that and on the limits of her power, since it wasn't really explored much in the canon. Too bad for that, but now I get to run with it haha 🙂
Once again, tremendously appreciate all the lovely feedback! You da best
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Another fantastic update! Love the interactions between Sesshomaru and Kagome. Also loving the tension growing between Kagome and Rin. Wonder if they’ll ever be able to mend their friendship
Yay, thanks! So glad you’re enjoying the SessKag interactions, and the growing tension 🙂
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Well if you think about it he is literally a son of a bitch. Haha
LOL
can’t argue with that XD
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As usual, AMAZING writing. I agree with the comment before that you write Sesshomaru really well, which is a reason why I enjoy reading your writing so much.
The tension between Sesshomaru and Kagome is amazing and shows how two people who are actually similar can have so much strife and struggle because of those similarities.
There is something so interesting about the way Kagome is handling this as well. In a lot of ways I think she is actually trying to save herself and it’s not working out so much.
With that being said, I absolutely love the way you write/characterize Kagome. In the show she’s very young and acts as such but if I had to envision an “adult” Kagome it would be your character. Her sense of duty and pride is spot on and her hardness is something I can relate to.
As said before, AMAZING and beautiful writing! Keep it coming!!
Aww thank you so much!! So glad you’re enjoying the characterizations, and my take on an “adult” Kagome 😊
Agree with you on many points here! 😉 Thanks so much for the awesome feedback and hope you enjoy the events to come!!
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Ahem, she needs to be disciplined. Preferably in some hideaway with a naked demon lord and his furry boa/tail.
She keeps raging at him when we all know they’re both twisted and deserve each other. Inuyasha was a boy. Kohaku is a wanna-be man. Sesshoumaru is an adult.
She is a grown ass woman who doesn’t need to play with boys anymore.
Lol who doesn’t need that kind of discipline? XD
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On the edge of my seat😫
Woohoo! 😉
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