Week #96 | Torn [Drabble]
Title: Offering
Author: LuxKen27
Universe: Canon
Genre: Drama
Rating: T
Word Length: 500
Summary: On the eve of battle, Sesshoumaru presents Kagome with a very special gift.
Author’s Note: Part of the “Allegiance” series, a sequel to ‘ Compel.’
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, tipping his head back against the wall. He sat beside the window in his bedchamber, soaking in the last moments of peace, cloaked in the darkness of night. When dawn broke, it would bring not only the first rays of light - but also the first cries of battle.
He could sense it - the tense anticipation coiled within his warriors as they stood guard, dotted strategically around the grounds as well as within the castle walls; further away, the cautious apprehension of the enemy floated through the air as they indulged their greatest human weakness, this need for sleep. Within himself, there was only calm: a steady pulse, rhythmic breathing, precision focus. In such a state, nothing could upset him, upend the balance that defined him as a taiyoukai. A warrior’s heart, a general’s mind, an unflinching hand - all were keys to his success.
His eyes opened and narrowed as he inclined his head, his gaze falling on the restless figure occupying his bed. The indecision that plagued her was threatening to engulf her, poisoning her aura and scraping against the bonds of his youki most irritatingly. Finally, she sat up, giving in, lowering her chin to her chest and capturing her face in her hands.
“Kagome,” he said, his tone soft but firm.
She gasped, startled, whirling around to face him. “You’re awake,” she choked out stupidly.
In one, smooth motion, he stood, his golden eyes glowing in the darkness as he approached the bed. A single candle flickered to life beside her, drawing his attention to her face. “Why do you cry?” he queried.
“I’m scared,” she admitted. “Aren’t you?”
“I feel no fear,” he replied, drawing the wakizashi from its place with his swords and laying it before her. “And neither should you.”
Her brow furrowed as she studied the short sword. “I can’t help it,” she continued. “I offered to bless your soldiers’ armor, so that it might be less vulnerable to the holy warriors’ purification powers, but they scoffed at me. Why can’t they see that I only want to help them? Do they blame me, for bringing this threat to their turf?”
“They do not want your protection,” Sesshoumaru acknowledged. “They are stubborn in their beliefs.”
She reached out hesitantly, fingering the dark red tack of the grip. “So what are you saying, by giving me this?” she asked.
He drew another sword from the surrounding darkness, Bakusaiga, resting it beside the wakizashi on the mattress. Their identical sheaths gleamed in the flicker of the candlelight. Kagome looked up at him then, her expression torn. Tears still rolled down her cheeks, her fear and disappointment from the dealings with his men apparent, though curiosity - and understanding - finally dawned as she realized the meaning of the gift.
She sat up on her knees, throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. “Thank you,” she breathed, tears falling anew.
He didn’t reply, merely closing his arms around her.
~*~
A small note of explanation, for those not familiar with feudal-era weaponry: a wakizashi is a short sword, worn alongside the longer katana within the traditional set of swords used by samurai warriors.
Author: LuxKen27
Universe: Canon
Genre: Drama
Rating: T
Word Length: 500
Summary: On the eve of battle, Sesshoumaru presents Kagome with a very special gift.
Author’s Note: Part of the “Allegiance” series, a sequel to ‘ Compel.’
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, tipping his head back against the wall. He sat beside the window in his bedchamber, soaking in the last moments of peace, cloaked in the darkness of night. When dawn broke, it would bring not only the first rays of light - but also the first cries of battle.
He could sense it - the tense anticipation coiled within his warriors as they stood guard, dotted strategically around the grounds as well as within the castle walls; further away, the cautious apprehension of the enemy floated through the air as they indulged their greatest human weakness, this need for sleep. Within himself, there was only calm: a steady pulse, rhythmic breathing, precision focus. In such a state, nothing could upset him, upend the balance that defined him as a taiyoukai. A warrior’s heart, a general’s mind, an unflinching hand - all were keys to his success.
His eyes opened and narrowed as he inclined his head, his gaze falling on the restless figure occupying his bed. The indecision that plagued her was threatening to engulf her, poisoning her aura and scraping against the bonds of his youki most irritatingly. Finally, she sat up, giving in, lowering her chin to her chest and capturing her face in her hands.
“Kagome,” he said, his tone soft but firm.
She gasped, startled, whirling around to face him. “You’re awake,” she choked out stupidly.
In one, smooth motion, he stood, his golden eyes glowing in the darkness as he approached the bed. A single candle flickered to life beside her, drawing his attention to her face. “Why do you cry?” he queried.
“I’m scared,” she admitted. “Aren’t you?”
“I feel no fear,” he replied, drawing the wakizashi from its place with his swords and laying it before her. “And neither should you.”
Her brow furrowed as she studied the short sword. “I can’t help it,” she continued. “I offered to bless your soldiers’ armor, so that it might be less vulnerable to the holy warriors’ purification powers, but they scoffed at me. Why can’t they see that I only want to help them? Do they blame me, for bringing this threat to their turf?”
“They do not want your protection,” Sesshoumaru acknowledged. “They are stubborn in their beliefs.”
She reached out hesitantly, fingering the dark red tack of the grip. “So what are you saying, by giving me this?” she asked.
He drew another sword from the surrounding darkness, Bakusaiga, resting it beside the wakizashi on the mattress. Their identical sheaths gleamed in the flicker of the candlelight. Kagome looked up at him then, her expression torn. Tears still rolled down her cheeks, her fear and disappointment from the dealings with his men apparent, though curiosity - and understanding - finally dawned as she realized the meaning of the gift.
She sat up on her knees, throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. “Thank you,” she breathed, tears falling anew.
He didn’t reply, merely closing his arms around her.
~*~
A small note of explanation, for those not familiar with feudal-era weaponry: a wakizashi is a short sword, worn alongside the longer katana within the traditional set of swords used by samurai warriors.