Numb, Kagome lay, staring at the candle by her bedside. Like the hearth, its flame had sputtered out some time ago, and she hadn’t yet mustered the will to light it again. Shivering in the cold and the dark, she stared on and on at the melted wax, frozen in its bleak ugly fall, and felt a strange sort of kinship with it.
“Kagome.”
Grinding her teeth, she clenched her eyes shut, willing him to go away. Why couldn’t he just let her be? Turning her head toward the floor, she hid her face behind the veil of her hair and pretended she was sleeping. But he wasn’t fooled.
He never was.
“Get up,” he said to her, his tone frostier still. “It is almost midday.”
Though she hadn’t felt him draw so near, clawed fingers were already curving under her arm, pulling her up from Inuyasha’s side of the bed. Whimpering, she dug her nails into the mattress, but it was futile. His grip was unrelenting.
“…Leave me alone,” she whispered, her voice hoarse and cracked with pain.
Sesshoumaru ignored her pleading. She cringed when he set her on her feet. Her fingers snagged in the dense silk of his sleeves. The sight of his silver hair and golden eyes sent a fresh wave of torment coursing through her. Her features twisted. Her half-hidden face turned away.
But she couldn’t dismiss him any more than she could dismiss the horrible truth that stood before her. As his claws swept the tangled curtain of her hair back behind her collar, their points caught on nothing, because there was nothing there to catch. Just smooth unbroken skin, standing in mockery to how torn she felt inside.
A choked cry smothered in her throat. If he hadn’t still been holding her by the arm, she would have crumpled to the floor. But instead, she merely swayed against him.
“Go and dress,” he said, pushing her toward the standing screen. “You have languished here long enough.”
Balefully, she looked at him then. “My husband is dead.”
Sesshoumaru looked back, unfazed by the venom in her tone. “So he is. Get dressed.”
Kagome’s hands balled into shaking fists. Breathing rapidly through her nose, she glared at him, but he simply continued to regard her in the same stony way he always did. It wasn’t a pitiless look, exactly—if it was, she could have laid into him for being heartless and cruel. But it certainly wasn’t tender. It wasn’t anything—and so there was nothing for Kagome to latch onto, nothing for her to do in the sheer icy face of it except to acquiesce to the inevitable.
Shoulders sinking, she slipped behind the screen. Her fingers fumbled with the sash of her rumpled yukata. Hot tears of frustration seeped down her cheeks. On the other side of the screen, Sesshoumaru’s shadow shifted, as if he’d turned away.
But when Kagome stepped out in her red hakama and white haori, he was facing her. Slowly, his narrowed eyes slid over her, lingering for a moment on the tumble of her hair. In the low light his irises were the slimmest band of gold.
“Come here,” he said.
Dragging her feet, Kagome approached him. As Sesshoumaru circled around her, she stiffened. When his claws began to rake through her unkempt tresses, she lurched away.
“I can do that myself,” she snapped, her eyes flashing at him as he drew her back by the shoulder.
“You had your chance,” Sesshoumaru replied, his voice hard with reprimand. “And like a petulant child, you chose to spite me instead.”
Kagome winced as his claws caught on a particularly nasty snarl. Her eyes watered at the sting of it, but she resisted the impulse to complain—not wanting to give him any further vindication. Worrying at her lower lip, she pouted silently to herself and waited for it to be over.
Her brother-in-law was fastidious to a fault. Not a strand was out of place as he bound up her hair—high, like she had used to wear it when she was a girl. Like how she’d preferred to wear it, when she wasn’t trying to emulate Kikyou. As Sesshoumaru finally released her, Kagome tugged at the binding with a frown. The long tail tickled against her nape.
“…It’s too tight,” she muttered, glancing aside as she let her hand fall away.
Sesshoumaru said nothing to this. Already he was striding toward the door. Lifting the curtain aside, he stared pointedly back at her. Kagome’s frown deepened as she hung her head.
“Please, Sesshoumaru, don’t make me do this. Not today.”
She hated how weak and frayed her voice sounded to her own ears. Even more, how cool and composed his was in return.
“You are the head priestess of this village. Those who dwell here depend upon you. They look to you for guidance and protection.” Retracing his steps to her, Sesshoumaru stopped, peering down. “Even were I content to let you wallow in your misery, you do not have the luxury of doing so.”
Lips trembling, Kagome craned back her neck to meet his flinty gaze. “Why do you care so much? These aren’t your lands. I’m just your half-brother’s widow—you don’t owe me anything.”
Before Inuyasha’s death, Kagome could count on one hand the number of times she’d exchanged words with Sesshoumaru. And most of them had been far from friendly. Following Naraku’s defeat, a truce of sorts had persisted between her husband and his elder brother, but it had been tenuous at best. There was an undercurrent of hostility there, always.
Of tension barely suppressed.
Even now, Kagome felt the shadow of that tension stretching between them, darkening the sharp, fey contours of Sesshoumaru’s face. His canine eyes glinted, flintier than before.
“The moment Inuyasha died, you became my responsibility.”
“I don’t want to be anyone’s burden.” Kagome shook her head vehemently. “I refuse to be.”
Sesshoumaru turned partway from her. His gaze slanted once more toward the half-opened door. “Then do as I say. Do your duty.”
Sharply, Kagome looked at him, unable to counter. Without her even realizing it, he had turned her own words—her own feelings—against her. He had reined her in with perfect ease, dousing the heat of her temper in cold and dispassionate logic.
Disarmed, defused, Kagome went meekly forward, out into the harsh light of day, her brother-in-law’s demonic aura a dark and unwavering presence at her back.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Revised 6/15/23
How Sesshomaru separates his murderous Kagomesexual self from his usual demeanour is just brilliant. To think that for a few chapters back, I actually felt sorry for him for not being in control of himself. Turns out, he’s VERY in control. Taking a bloody leaf out of Stasis!Sesshomaru’s book, am I wrong to assume that those human women were just substitutes for what he REALLY wanted?
I agree with you in that. It’s really scary how he can be so caring and affectionate while maintaining a detached attitude but then also desire her so strongly.
I would say this Sesshoumaru is even more complex and disturbing than Stasis!Sesshoumaru. The degree of planning and cunning and calculation is almost chilling. He reads Kagome like an open book and even though Kohaku also starts to see the ‘true’ Kagome, I still believe he’s too immature and weak to be able to handle her and truly have a grasp on her true self. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, sees right through her.
I think that this version of Kagome might also be the best of all your works Char. She’s too intelligent, powerful and modern to be able to live with someone from that period. For while Inuyasha was sweet and ruff and a ‘challange’, he wasn’t really an equal. But it seems that Sesshoumaru is a much better match. Now I only to find out how far his cunning goes 🤔
Thank you so much!! I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying Kagome’s characterization in this story! It’s certainly a much different take on her from my usual 🙂 But I gotta admit, it’s fun writing a high-powered Kagome for a change haha
Absolutely loved hearing your take on the 3 main male figures in Kagome’s life and how they compare with one another 🙂 I sincerely hope you enjoy the evolution of the story!!
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Ahh love hearing your thoughts on Sesshoumaru’s character in this story!! And how he compares to Stasis!Sess 🙂
Is he in control, or is he not? Hope you enjoy how the events unfold from here, and thanks for sharing!!
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I would say he’s very in control, judging with how his conversation with his father went a few side stories back. This bitch knows EXACTLY what he’s doing and WHY he’s doing it. After that incident happened where I KNOW he attacked her, he just sat back and bided his time until there was nothing else in the way. His second to last obstacle to what he wanted was Inuyasha, and I do believe he got rid of that. Now his only obstacle is Kagome herself.
I love these “tender moments” Sesshomaru had with Kagome. He hides it really well under his signature “icy” seemingly uncaring demeanor. 😉 Love their relationship development!
Also, in part of 68 of Control, i wonder how sesshomaru got past her barrier without triggering or without her notice. Was it because she was so drunk, or does it have to do it with Hirokin passing her barrier?? Just a thought…
Love this series. Please keep it up!! I love these side stories as well (i just see it as one big clump of Control)^^
Thanks always for posting and taking time out of your busy schedule to write! Much appreciated. Enjoying every single update!! <3
I love these “tender moments” Sesshomaru *HAS* with Kagome.
(I hate my phone keyboard and its autocorrect) !!! T.T
Yay so glad you’re enjoying the side stories – and the “tender moments”! I also see them all as a sort of ‘Control’ fanfiction collection 🙂
Wish I had more time to write and post! But I do my best to keep at it, and it’s so wonderful to hear such encouragement and kind support 🙂 Thanks so much!!
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It’s creepy how he can so easily disguise liberties he wants to take with Kagome with actions he’s bound by duty to take. He’s caring, but cold and waiting, as always.
Creepy indeed 🙂
Love hearing your assessment, girl!!
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Kagome was too grief-stricken then to see that Sesshoumaru was moulding her to become the woman he wanted – a female strong enough to withstand his beast’s sexual appetite.
I think Sesshoumaru took her virginity before she married Inuyasha and she died during the assault. Either she transcended then and survived or he used Tenseiga on her then she transcended. It’s possible her mind blocked out the traumatic incident so she couldn’t remember. But her body does, that’s why she has these urges.
Her coochie only wants Big Bad Doggie. No one else will do. Take note Kohaku. You were not even on the list of finalists, you bitter reject.
Sesshoumaru has been planning this for years along with his watery sidekick Hirokin who hates/envies/wishes to be Kagome coz he is so hung up on Sesshoumaru.
It seems to me that Sesshoumaru is tainting her too. I find it hard to believe that the current Kagome is loved by the village. They know her power, they respect her title but the loving clumsy teen of long ago is no more.
She is this short-tempered alcoholic dictator-wanna be who keeps deadly secrets. I wonder if Sesshoumaru’s plan includes isolating her so her only option is to leave humans and be with him.
The Sesshoumaru in Stasis was a demon through and through. He took what he wanted and when he felt like it, played with his obsession. The concept of human love was alien to him.
This Sesshoumaru is so much more twisted and evil. He can act like the caring brother-in-law and father figure. Then at the same time screw scores of females to death and discard their bodies. Even before he met Kagome, he treated the females as nothing more than bodies to slake his lust. Then she crossed his path. I think when she survived his assault, he became intrigued then obsessed.
Inuyasha had always been expendable to him. He wanted the sister-in-law so the brother definitely had to go.
LOL poor Kohaku… XD
Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this detailed analysis, Doug!! There is something particularly twisted about premeditation…whatever the motivations/intentions behind it. Poor, poor Kagome. It’s tough writing her this way, although I’m enjoying the challenge! I’d still say she’s holding up a lot better under all this pressure than I would be haha
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts – on this and my other story!! Love, love, love!
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