Perverts 'R' Us

Enough is Enough

By Danyealle ( fanfiction, Inuyasha, M/F, Kagome, Kouga, angst )

Chapter 1

Dumping her heavy, bulging pack over the lip of the well, she pulled herself out, puffing slightly. It was a lot heavier than normal. Sitting on the edge of the old wood she caught her breath. Of course, Inuyasha wasn't there to meet her like he said he would be. Realistically she knew he wouldn't be but she had hoped he would.

Looking the direction of Edo she knew she should get going but she didn't want to. Part of her just plain didn't want to face Inuyasha right now. It's not that they were fighting or bickering any more than normal, in fact it was less because she was out and out refusing to let him bait her, but she was reaching the point of enough was too much. She just plain couldn't stomach any more was all there was to it.

Sighing, she put her face in her hands and shut her eyes. How many years had it been since she was first pulled through the well? Four years now. He had known for that long how she felt about him yet here she was, still waiting for something more to happen. How much longer should she have to wait? Realistically she knew that as long as Kikyo remained in this realm, nothing would change. She also knew that if she brought up the topic of a firm definition of what they had it would result in an argument that would solve nothing and probably would make things worse.

Sighing deeply, she shook her head. Somewhere in her there must be a huge masochistic streak that loved to be fed because she was a serious glutton for punishment and kept coming back for more. Either that or it was karmic debt she was still paying off for something big. Either way the whole situation sucked!

Lost in thought, she didn't feel the demonic aura approaching that always registered on her radar by this point. In fact she didn't even notice when Sesshomaru stepped out of the trees. It wasn't until he was next to her and said, "miko," gruffly that she was yanked back into reality.

Choking back a scream, she jumped and looked at him wide-eyed. "Lord Sesshomaru!" She squeaked out, heart hammering.

"Daydreaming out in the open like this isn't wise miko." He scolded, piercing her with one of his flat stares.

Sighing, she nodded, "I know. I just fell into a bit of wool gathering." Hopping off the well she dug into her pack for the medical supplies he had asked her to pick up for his human ward as well as few things, like toys and books, that she had brought along for the child. After showing him what she brought and explaining what he would need to know, she fastened the pack and shouldered it.

Instead of vanishing into the woods with a grunt of thanks like always, the Western Lord stood there and looked at her. Finally, he said, matter-of-factly, "You're unhappy."

Smiling sadly, she shrugged and looked at him, "I honestly don't know what I am."

Locking eyes with her, he grunted, "Hn… Take my advice, consider it payment for what you've brought me, give up on the hanyou and find someone with some honor and that will treat you with the respect you deserve."

"But you've never liked Inuyasha…"

"Be that as it may, I find the disrespect he treats you with appalling. You and I have had less than a stellar past and have had our differences but have I ever called you the names he has or treated you with the same level of disrespect?"

"Well, no." She had to admit. Yes, he had tried to kill her and her friends in the past and his views of humans was well known but in the last couple years, as both brothers focused on removing the spider hanyou from this plane of existence, they had been in contact more often and had even joined up from time to time. Sesshomaru, since then, had always treated her, Miroku and Sango with the utmost respect and never spoke to her like she was less than he was or a fool. In fact, there had been times she had seen looks in his eyes that clearly shown that he most certainly didn't like the way Inuyasha spoke to or treated her.

"My little brother needs to learn that physical strength and an ability to fight are not the only kinds of power in this world. Just because you are not up to his level in that area miko does not mean you are less than him. You are not and don't forget that. Your power is in a different area and is equal to, if not greater than, his own yet he is blind to that.

"Tell me this, miko, has my little brother ever attempted to train you and improve your fighting skills?"

Unable to say anything, mind reeling from what he had already said, she just shook her head.

"Hn… I thought not. So, apparently, you are his whipping post for his frustration and he has no intention of improving your skills or doing anything to rectify the situation."

Feeling a lump growing in her throat, she said nothing, just looked at him. Sesshomaru was an arrogant, sarcastic ass on a good day, and those were some of his better qualities, but he didn't say things like this if they weren't true.

"The first time you shot one of your arrows at me, how long had you been using a bow?"

Thinking back, she shrugged, "Not long. I was still just learning. Before coming here I had never even picked one up."

"Yet you were very accurate. To most of us that would tell us that you have a natural talent for it and we would make sure to help you practice and train. Not tell you it's something you can't do."

Again, she was quiet. There was nothing she really could say in Inuyasha's defense because his brother was right.

Waiting quietly for a couple minutes for what he had said to sink in, he looked at her. Unlike so many thick headed beings, youkai, hanyou, and Ningens alike, who would just argue fault in the face of overwhelming evidence, she didn't. She was thinking about what he had said even though he knew it had to hurt to do so.

Finally, he said, "Kagome…" softly.

She raised her eyes and looked at him.

"The ookami prince, the hanyou is always fighting with… How does he treat you?"

Smiling, she giggled a bit, "Kouga? He's always treated me nicely, well besides kidnapping me. Even then he protected me."

"Do you think how he treats you is an act or done to just annoy the hanyou? Or is it real?"

Without thinking, she said, "Oh, it's real. Kouga wouldn't fake that."

"He treats you well, showers you with affection, is kind to you… All things females of any species love yet you don't consider him a candidate or your affections. Why?" Before she could answer he pressed on. "Because he's not Inuyasha? Have you even really given him a chance?"

"Not really." She said in small voice.

"He may be an ookami and uncouth but because of his status and bloodline he would never harm you or allow anyone else to."

Honestly, she had been so fixated on Inuyasha when she met Kouga that she hadn't even thought of him the way Sesshomaru had mentioned. And he was right, Kouga was about as subtle as a boulder but he was sweet and treated her well, always worried about her welfare.

"Maybe it's time you give him a chance, miko. Spend some time with him to see if there might be something worth perusing."

"But Inuyasha…"

He cut her off quickly. "If your hanyou has feelings for you and is worthy of the feelings you have for him he will see this as a slap to the face and a warning to get his act together."

Putting a hand on her shoulder, he muttered a gruff, "Come, miko."

Taking the offer, she stood as the ball of white light surrounded them and they were whisked away.