Inescapable Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Consuming

Looking to where the rest of the group slept across the clearing, Sesshomaru allowed his gaze to linger on his brother. Tonight was the new moon, and despite reservations from years of vulnerability on his human night, InuYasha had displayed an impressive amount of trust in Sesshomaru by succumbing to his body's need for rest. Sun-burnished eyes swept across the glittering darkness overhead. Three days had passed since his talk with the taijiya, five since Kikyo and Kagome had disappeared into the embrace of Time. Sesshomaru continued to stand vigil over the well, his mind consumed with thoughts of the tiny priestess and the lingering question Sango had posed.

We all have stars we recognize, Sesshomaru... is Kagome one of yours?

A cool wind pressed down on him as though pushing him for an answer he didn't have. Despite all efforts to define his emotions and motives concerning the young woman from the future, the normally unruffled lord was, for lack of a better word, flummoxed.

In the year since the Jewel had vanished, and in the months since she had recklessly thrown herself on the back of the oni in a misguided attempt to help him, Kagome had defied all of his efforts to define her. She smiled when others would cry, became angry over the most trifling matters and exercised more wisdom during difficult times than many others much older and more experienced than herself.

Sesshomaru already knew, and accepted, the fact that he respected her and often found her optimistic attitude a vibrant flavor on a jaded palate. However, over the past few nights, he had been forced to reluctantly admit that his feelings for the volatile woman went far deeper than that of an ally, although just how far continued to elude him. Sesshomaru was unaccustomed to having to actively think about his relationships with others, as people normally fit into one of two categories: those who were alive, and those who wouldn't be shortly. The miko had frequently crossed the line between the two, and now she didn't really fit into either. Thus his current predicament.

For all his stoicism, the taiyoukai was still inu, and he knew that his loyal and protective nature had become attached to Kagome over time, treating her as he would a member of his pack. He felt similar emotions with Rin, but it was different in significant ways that he had not noticed until recently. Thoughts turning to the precious child who shadowed his every footstep, Sesshomaru felt warmth spread through his chest.

It was Rin's strength and courage that had turned him from the path of supreme conquest. In the years since he had met the mute child covered in bruises and a smile, Rin had helped him grow exponentially stronger. Through her actions and loyalty, Sesshomaru realized that the true path to ultimate power was not measured in how much strength he gained through conquest, but in what he did with that strength.

She was his northern light, a guiding star in the darkness his universe had become, leading him back to life.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes, a frown pinching the corners of his mouth as he debated with hiself internally. 'Rin's place with me is simple. I wish to protect her by instructing the girl in the realities of the world. I want to teach her how to protect herself from both physical and emotional injury in the event that I cannot be there.' The taiyoukai scoffed at the thought of there being a time when he would not be there for his tiny ward. Sesshomaru knew that if Rin ever needed him, he would find his little girl and remove all threats to her happiness as they arose. Though reluctant to accept how attached he was to the child, Sesshomaru knew Rin was his daughter, a member of his pack and most definitely one of his stars. 'But she...'

Sun-steeped orbs flashed open to glare with frustration into the unresponsive depths of the well, for while he knew Kagome was different, the imposing inu still had no answer as to her role in his pack.

The brazen miko was already capable of protecting herself and those around her, imbued with a fortitude born from her genuine love for life. The young woman never settled for the realities of the world- instead she faced them with a smile, challenging the accepted truths in favor of supporting unrealized dreams, hopes, and everything that could be.

In her cinnamon-warmed eyes, Sesshomaru had found a companion who understood the burden of responsibility yet dealt with it in a completely different capacity; where others would have become trapped by their duties, as he sometimes did, Kagome embraced the opportunities afforded her as a result of her obligations in both the past and present.

And yet, regardless of her independent nature, he still wanted to protect her - he needed to protect her.

Glancing again at the group across the clearing, Sesshomaru recalled the conversation he'd overheard between his brother and the monk. He had only caught parts of it towards the end of his own conversation with Sango, but he distinctly heard his brother mention that fact that Kagome, amongst others, had given everything to protect his happiness. Eyes narrowed with irritation, and Sesshomaru's claws itched to bury themselves into his half-brother's hide as he thought of the numerous sacrifices the miko had made for the whelp.

'He is undeserving of such loyalty, yet I cannot fault her for her indiscriminate heart.' Calming himself, the silver inu returned to his previous train of thought with a dissatisfied hum. As he considered this new aspect of Kagome's devotion to the hanyou and her other friends, a question floated to the surface of his mind: who protected Kagome's happiness? When all the tenacious woman's smiles, laughter, and energies were spent on her pack's contentment and well-being, who was looking after her own?

While the youkai lord held no doubts that this nurturing brought her a measure of true joy and fulfillment, he also knew that this was how he could protect the enigma that was Kagome: he would help protect her happiness, by reminding her to not forget herself in caring for others. He would not allow her to neglect her own heart in her quest to save everyone else's.

Full lips relaxed into a hint of a smile as Sesshomaru's turbulent emotions finally quieted in light of his resolve. The breeze that brushed past him was like a sigh of relief, as though nature itself approved of his decision in regards to Kagome.

Turning his face once more to the fading glamor of night, he felt his gut tighten in resignation as the stars above winked out of existence, because even with his epiphany, he did not know the answer to the demon slayer's question. He did not have many stars in his life... but was Kagome one of them?

A flux of power slammed through him from behind, derailing his train of thought. Lifting his arm to shield his eyes, Sesshomaru swiftly turned to the blinding light billowing from the depths of the ancient well. When the light began to fade, the normally calm youkai lord rushed to the edge of the derelict structure, his searching gaze widening at the sight- and sound- that greeted him.

'Her heart... I can hear her heart beating.' Reaching down as far as he could, Sesshomaru's clawed hand was clasped firmly by a smaller, more feminine one. 'Kagome... she's alive!'

Pulling swiftly, and with more care than he might have used just five days previous, Sesshomaru easily lifted both Kagome and Kikyo from the magical structure. As they settled themselves on the lip of the well, Kikyo released her hold around the younger woman's waist in favor of clutching Kagome's free hand in both of her own. Neither of the women spoke as twin sets of copper and rust eyes filled with sisterly understanding before turning to acknowledge him.  Giving a nod of thanks to Sesshomaru, Kikyo shared one last, knowing look with Kagome before rising and heading swiftly towards the little camp in the clearing.

Golden eyes never left Kagome's content features as she quietly watched Kikyo's retreating form, and the taiyoukai was startled to realize she hadn't let go of his hand. Before he could decide whether he wanted to pull away or pull her closer, Kagome's warm eyes slid back to him. Her gaze pinned him in place, a radiant smile stretching her lips, transforming her expression with pure joy.

Shocking him further, the euphoric miko barreled into his middle, hugging him without reserve or pretense. Sesshomaru felt his own arms respond to the freely offered affection and firmly wrap around her soft body. The taiyoukai rarely engaged in physical displays of emotion, yet it didn't even occur to him to resist the affectionate embrace the small woman had initiated. Pale lashes rested along the refined crest of alabaster cheeks as Sesshomaru allowed himself to revel in Kagome's touch. Moments passed in silence, neither of them willing to give up the quiet celebration raging through both their bodies. When Kagome did relinquish her hold, she stepped away from him only to warmly grasp his hand once more.

"I knew you'd come for me, Sesshomaru."

The certainty in her voice swept through the demon lord's body in a flood of pleased heat; she had never lost faith in him even when he'd lost faith in himself. As he contemplated how such a fragile woman could harbor such unwavering confidence, light spilled over the horizon behind Kagome, outlining her beaming face in a golden blaze. Though beautiful in its own right, the dawn's resplendent blush paled in comparison to the light of pure joy illuminating the petite miko's steady, trust-filled gaze.

And as he stood there, basking in the glowing inferno that was Kagome, alive and whole and very much still holding tightly to his hand, Sesshomaru found his answer to Sango's inquiry: this bold, vibrant woman could never be described as a mere star, weakly gleaming out of the darkness, lost amongst the thousands of stars struggling to let their radiance be seen.

No, Kagome was not one of his stars; he had enough of those in Rin, his father and mother, and even his annoying half-brother. Clawed fingers wrapped determinedly around the dainty hand pressed into his own as Sesshomaru realized that, for him, Kagome was so much more. She was a sunrise, consuming the lingering darkness and revealing the beautiful possibilities of each new day.

She was his sunrise.

~

Magatsuhi cursed vibrantly, his own vocals twisting Naraku's voice into something discordant and unnatural.

Using Kanna's mirror, the possessing demon and his hanyou host had observed the return of both miko with growing rage. He had killed the damned wench himself! Magatsuhi had even gone to the trouble months ago to make certain the Tensaiga wouldn't be able to bring her back! It had taken him months to plan that most perfect scenario where Kagome would run into the demon lord being attacked without her precious hanyou nearby - to ensure she felt the need to intervene, and then injure her critically before Sesshomaru could react.

Yet the meddlesome bitch stood, glowing with health next to the other greatest threat to his machinations. On top of that, it looked like Kikyo had also been completely restored to life, further endangering his existence.

Lashing out in anger, Magatsuhi grabbed the small void demoness and slammed her into a nearby wall, satisfaction running through him as a fractures ran across the surface of her pale, childlike body.

Naraku cringed within himself, anger and trepidation warring for dominance, because while he hadn't exactly agreed to having his body possessed, he'd been initially pleased by the results of the joining - the look on Sesshomaru and the other's faces; the pain and fear that had enveloped Kagome's scent as he tortured her... it had all been frighteningly glorious.

And yet... the longer Magatsuhi remained in control, the more he realized that he was once again trapped, just as he had been when he was a child, and the lack of control, the inability to fight back against the strength of the demon manipulating his body was chipping away at his patience.

He was no longer a nameless weakling - he had abandoned his past and was now Naraku, the most dangerous being in all of Nippon. After the indignities he had suffered at the hands of others, the demented hanyou refused to  become powerless. He hadn't done all of this for nothing, had he? He hadn't sacrificed his blackened soul only to be controlled by one more depraved...right?

'No,' he thought, denial and rage bending wickedly throughout his spirit. 'I am the puppet master here, I control the strings of Fate in this game. No one manipulates me...no one. And I will not allow this relic of hatred to push me back into a past I killed to be free from.'

With this thought in mind, the dark hanyou pushed his aura outward, trying to reassert his control over his own body. After long moments, a dark chuckle echoed from his throat as Magatsuhi felt his wasted efforts.

"Foolish hanyou... you think to reject me?" The hanyou watched his eyes glowed a sinister violet in the reflection of the mirror still clutched by Kanna's delicate hands. As his face was warped into a demented grin, Naraku cringed back from the consuming malevolence surging around his inner prison, hissing in pain as it fastened tightly around his consciousness.

What little influence he'd been able to exercise up to this point was leeched away, along with his strength, leaving the trussed up Naraku at the mercy of the Shikon Demon, now in full control. "I may have failed to kill Kagome, but I can still stop the prophecy." Naraku felt the beginnings of malicious madness, so familiar and yet so strange, curl around the fuzzy edges of his stolen consciousness. "She can't locate the Jewel without bringing together the three Imperial Treasures. And that won't be possible...

"...if I kill you."