In the tepid light of dawn, Sesshoumaru awakened.

His muscles were cramped and strangely sore. Eyes still closed, he hissed in a breath as he minutely shifted, the fog of slumber still clouding his mind. He could not remember the last time he had slept so deeply. Frowning at the grogginess that gripped him, he was bringing back his claws to knead at his aching brow when his hand skimmed along the delicate wrist of another.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes flew open. Like a deluge, memories from the night before came flooding in. He remembered the fruit, the vision of Kagome well again—and with sinking dread, what had come after. What he had felt.

What he had done.

His mouth ran dry at the remembrance—and at where his actions had left him. Anguished and disgraced, despite his noble intentions. Mated by force to the very woman he had vowed to save. Crushed even now to her naked back and, to his unspeakable shame, buried inside her still. Disgusted with himself, Sesshoumaru withdrew—cringing as he slid half-hard from her. In terrible, sickening numbness he stared down at the markings he had laid upon her neck and shoulder—two long, tapering slashes of purplish-red, the same shape and shade as his own.

He had succeeded.

To his horror, he had succeeded.

How long he sat frozen beside her, Sesshoumaru could not say. But it was the sound of a soft feminine voice which moved him at last.

“My lord…may I enter?”

Dropping his claws heavily from his brow, Sesshoumaru looked to the door. Still sealed by his youki, it gleamed faintly. Forbiddingly. His eyes narrowed as he slowly breathed. The only prospect more harrowing than remaining locked in this room was the thought of leaving it. To see forevermore reflected in the eyes of his family, his allies, his soldiers and servants and even his enemies—the knowledge of what he had done.

Yet so it was.

Drawing himself up, Sesshoumaru steeled himself as he donned his clothes and dropped the seal at last. After a few moments of palpable hesitation, Hikari entered, her gaze fastening at once to the floor. That she wished for him to leave was starkly apparent. Yet as Sesshoumaru stepped past her, the sound of her voice arrested him once more.

“This…”

The demon lord turned. Clasped lightly in her claws was the half-eaten fruit, its exposed flesh glaring bright red beneath the broken silver casing of its skin. Frowning, Sesshoumaru met her eye.

“You know of it?” he asked her.

Hikari nodded, frowning in turn. “Yes, my lord—it comes from across the sea.” Her gaze returned to the fruit in her hand. “Those who eat of it are said to be possessed with powerful desires. Desires which are projected into reality, visions of…”

Catching herself, the demoness ducked her head, abashed. Yet oddly enough, her slip of tongue loosened Sesshoumaru’s own.

“When I ate of it,” he reflected aloud, “I saw a vision of Kagome. A vision so powerful that in that moment, I forgot myself. I was lost in it, this illusion. That fruit,” he said, catching the healer’s gaze, “what it projects is a vision of irrepressible desire for the one you behold.”

Hikari glanced up at him quickly, her lips parting as though she wished to speak—yet after a moment, her jaw locked tight, the glint of unmistakable pity in her eyes lancing through him more sharply than any blade.

Unable to bear its sting, Sesshoumaru turned away, the Jewel an iron weight above his heart. “I will leave her to your care.”

“…My lord—please wait.”

Claws upon the screen, Sesshoumaru glanced back. Kneeling beside the bed, Hikari looked up at him in wordless entreaty. His brow furrowed as he retraced his steps to her side, his eyes widening at what he saw.

Short ivory claws touched to the scar in Kagome’s left cheek—or to where there had once been a scar. Now, instead of a deep gash, only the thinnest, shallowest line remained. A line which before his eyes grew thinner still. Sesshoumaru’s breath caught in wonder at the sight—yet this was no illusion.

“Sesshoumaru-sama,” Hikari said, her lavender eyes glimmering as they lifted to his. “Kagome-sama is healing in full.”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

It’s been too long 💕