Sunday, May 22, 2005

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The Price You Pay: Cost of Blood
*episode 11*

After leaving Rin and Jaken, the group seeks out a hot spring. Kagome and Sango invite Kagura to join them. After a short conference, it is decided that Kohaku is young enough to bathe with the girls. Inuyasha sits by a fire a safe distance from the spring. As the four soak off the stress of one ordeal after another, most of them relax. However, although he has no problem looking at his sister and he quickly becomes comfortable with Kagome, Kohaku keeps his eyes off of Kagura. The pointlessness of this, considering that he has treated wounds deliberately inflicted on her most private areas, does not escape him. However in his mind, for some reason, rules of modesty which do not apply to the other young women do apply to Kagura. After a few minutes, Sango asks Kagome, “So what happened between you and Sesshomaru?” “What happened?” Kagome says. “I’ll tell you what happened! He grabbed me and shoved his tongue down my throat!” Sango says, “That’s odd. I thought he wasn’t interested in human women.” Kagome says, “He wasn’t. The creep just wanted to show that he was in charge. First, he started talking about me as if I was a piece of furniture. As far as he was concerned, at that moment, he was just examining a piece of his brother’s property. He looked me over, prodded me a few times, and said that I have a nice body, even if it’s only mortal.” Kagura says, “You do, you know. He probably meant it when he said that.” “Gee, thanks. I think.” Kagome says. “Anyway, he smelled me, then he gave me a small kiss on the cheek; it was probably his idea of a joke.” “So what did you do?” Sango asks. “What do you think I did?” Kagome asks. “I slapped him. Anyway, he had to prove that I couldn’t tell him what to do; or what not to do.” She turns to Kagura and says, “I think you made the right call, turning him down. I don’t think he could ever treat you with respect.” Kagura smiles. “Romance between demons is not the same as it is between humans; or even between demons and humans. It isn’t about respect, or even love. It’s about intelligent passion. How a male acts should only impacts my judgment in as much as it reflects what kind of children he would give me. Sesshomaru is a truly mighty demon. He has a right to be arrogant. He can reject females; among demons it is generally the other way around. He could find stronger demonesses to be his mate. By every argument, I should have accepted his offer and considered myself lucky.” Kagome asks, “Then why’d you say no?” Kagura says, “You of all people should know that there are exceptions.” “Me?” Kagome asks. “How could Inuyasha’s father have possibly believed that a mortal woman would produce the strongest possible demonic offspring?” Kagura asks. “I admit, in terms of strength Inuyasha rivals his brother. But his human heart has proved more powerful then his demon instinct. Or do you fancy yourself to have been chosen for the quality of your potential children?” Kagome blushes. Sango says, “Kagura, how do you know all of this? You said that your experience was limited to Naraku.” Kagura says, “When he created me, Naraku made sure that I had a full understanding of such matters, both among humans and demons. I think it was a part of his mind games. Information he was sure I would never need, but which would add to my longing for freedom” “So, are you looking for love Kagura?” Kagome asks. “I don’t know.” the demon admits. “Part of what Naraku put in me was a conflict of desires. I have always known that freedom would entitle me to seek a worthy mate and bare offspring. But recently, I have begun to realize that I have had a hidden desire to be…” she hesitates, “loved, all along. Add to this the fact that I know that Naraku created these desires when he created me, and that I am therefore not sure if I want to follow either of them; and I just need more time to figure out what it is that I want. So I passed up an opportunity which may never come again.” “Well you know,” Kagome says smiling, “I could be partial, but I think you’ll be happier if whoever you end up with is someone who cares about you. Find some demon, or even a human, who will love you, not just mate with you.” “Like you and Inuyasha?” Kagura asks. Kagome pauses, then she gives a barely perceptible nod. When Kagura breaks eye contact with Kagome she sees that Kohaku’s eyes are locked on her face. Involuntarily, she gives a small smile. The boy blushes and looks away. Sango says, “I’ve had enough. We ought to give Inuyasha a turn. Kohaku, you can stay if you want to.” The three girls get out and head for their clothes. Suddenly, Kagome lets out a shriek. Everyone turns to see her dropping her blouse. “Snake.” she says apologetically. Inuyasha bursts into the clearing, brandishing the Tetsusaiga. He stops, awestruck by the sight he encounters. Kagome shouts, “Inuyasha!!!” The spell broken, he turns and rushes back to the fire. As the girls turn back to their clothes, Sango asks Kagome, “No sit?” Kagome blushes and says, “It was an honest mistake. I screamed, he came running.” Sango says, “That never stopped you before.” Kagome is still blushing. She says, “Look! I don’t want to talk about it. Kagura, Sango, if either of you think he deserves it, you smack him.” Kagome walks off leaving her new friends perplexed and her old friend amused.
*The End*
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