Inuyasha | Allegiance [13]: Emergence

[luxken27fics]

MASTER SERIES INDEX IS HERE.
Title: Allegiance
Author: LuxKen27
Fandom: Inuyasha
Universe: Canon (Post-manga)
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama, Romance
Rating: M
Warning(s): Character death, violence
Summary: Strictly-come-canon, post-manga. Kagome is forced to seek out Sesshoumaru's protection in the wake of unexpected tragedy. As she insinuates herself into his life, Sesshoumaru comes to realize her second chance is also his, as her presence drives him to confront mistakes from his own past.

~*~
“As you requested, my lord.”

Sesshoumaru grunted in response, keeping his eyes steady on his desk as Kagome lowered the makeshift tray in front of him. The two of them had made a tacit agreement to not speak of the events of that morning; he had not yet fully recovered from the intensity of the emotions had to accompanied that rush of memories. He hated feeling vulnerable, and he hated being reminded of past mistakes.

But most of all, he hated this newfound ability to feel remorse.

It was such a useless state of being for a creature of his stature.

He pushed these petty annoyances from his mind as he examined the materials laid out on the tray. The long wooden shafts were straight and strong, topped off with sturdy fletching; the arrowheads beside them had been honed with precision, their points glinting in the overhead light – the products of a steady, confident, practiced hand.

He had to admit, her craftsmanship had come a long way from the first time he’d met her in battle, and had the pleasure of experiencing the business end of her arrow.

Carefully, he picked up one of the arrowheads, holding it between the claws of his thumb and middle finger. With a thoughtful look, he held it aloft, pressing down ever so slightly on both ends. From the corner of his eye, he watched her curiosity grow into awe as she observed the dokkasou flowing forth from the tips of his claws, seeping into the smooth stone and granting it a dull green glow.

He laid the newly-infused arrowhead down and picked up the next one, repeating the process, his ever-impassive expression never betraying the measure of his thoughts.

“So tell me,” he murmured aloud a few moments later, startling her from her reverie, “are you truly prepared to walk into this battle? To fight alongside a sworn enemy, against those of your own kind?”

She swallowed hard before lifting her gaze to meet his. Determination glittered in the sapphire depths of her eyes.

“These are the very same warriors who murdered my husband, and left him to die in my arms,” she replied fiercely. “They are not – and never will be – brethren ‘of my own kind.’” She paused for a beat. “And you are not my enemy.”

He shrugged.

“Your men do not respect me,” she continued, “and you can’t guard me every hour of the day. These holy men have come here for me, for whatever reason...”

He bit back the urge to correct her; perhaps it would be better for them all if she didn’t realize their enemies’ true intentions.

“…and since you won’t let me go, I will do what it takes to protect myself,” she vowed. She reached out for his free hand, her fingers lightly skimming across his skin. “…and those I hold dear.”

He narrowed his eyes in assessing study, slowly withdrawing his hand from her grip. Her eyes fell to his desk, her expression shuttering at his rebuff, and a slight pang of guilt sliced through his chest in response. He turned his attention back to the task at hand, stifling a frustrated growl and pushing the unwelcome flow of emotions from his mind.

He glanced up again as he finished, only to find Kagome staring down at the space beside his desk. He followed her line of vision and quirked a brow when his eyes came to rest on Bakusaiga. He looked back at her, reaching through his youki to touch the edge of her aura, only to meet a wall of determination.

“You have experience with swordplay?” he mused aloud, cupping the last of her arrowheads in his hand.

She looked up sharply, startled by his sudden question, quiet for a moment as her eyes searched his. “I’ve handled Tessaiga on occasion,” she confirmed, bringing back to his mind the memory of their first meeting, when she had drawn the sword from the stone of his father’s tomb.

“In battle?” he pressed.

“When necessary,” she returned. She reached out, gripping the sides of the tray and pulling it towards herself, before standing, all in one swift move. “As I said before, I’ve done what I had to do, to protect the ones I love…” She trailed off, debating with herself as to whether or not she should continue her line of thought. “And I don’t intend to stop now.”

Neither do I, Sesshoumaru contended silently as she left the room, holding up the errant arrowhead and gazing at it thoughtfully.

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