A Kludge of One Shots by tenchi no mai

Everyone Needs A Hero

This was written in response to Priestess Skye's Weekly Challenge

Prompt:  Hero

Required Word Count:  Free

Actual Word Count:  1595

Rating:  M

Warnings:  Innuendoes

Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz Media.   Only the plot to this story and my original characters, Shun and Haru, are my intellectual property.  I do not make any money from the writing of this story. 

'Italics' = thoughts

Everyone Needs A Hero

Shun frowned as he surreptitiously watched Kagome from over the top of the morning newspaper while she got ready to leave the shiro.  He was overly anxious for some reason that he could not put a name to, and he didn't like the uneasy feeling that was roiling around in his gut.    

His jewel like beige and silver eyes followed her keenly as she packed a tote bag with her apron, notebook, pens, some cooking paraphernalia and a baking pan.  Jak had called last evening and asked if she would help out with a class at the cooking school this morning.   

He desperately wanted to ask her to change her plans and not go, but he caught Sesshoumaru's raised eyebrow.  Somehow or another, Sessh always knew what he was thinking.  Today was Saturday, and he had hoped to spend a couple of hours alone with her, maybe take her out to lunch.  His thoughts brightened, if she would let him drive her to the class, afterwards when he picked her up they could go to a nice restaurant for lunch.  

It had been several weeks, probably closer to a month now, since the imbroglio with Kagome and Haru, yet things were still not anywhere near back to normal.  Shun hadn't realized at the time how much he hurt Kagome with his words, nor how difficult it was going to be to get back into her good graces.

He tried flowers, he tried chocolates, he tried perfume, he tried lingerie, he tried jewelry.  Nothing seemed to work.  She wasn't exactly giving him the cold shoulder, but she certainly wasn't her usual sweet, warm, cuddly, loving self.  He tried to seduce her into bed, thinking maybe if they got close physically it would work.  Huge mistake!  She didn't refuse him, but she may as well have, and it probably would have been better if she had.  The physical release was there, but the best way to describe it was the connection at the heart that they shared was broken.  It was the most unsatisfying experience he could ever recall, immediately deciding that he would not force it again and would wait for her to come back to him.  Sessh kept telling him that she would forgive him and things would get back to normal, but at this point he was beginning to doubt it. 

~*~ 

Kagome was aware that Shun was closely watching her as she packed up a few things to take with her to the cooking school.  She wasn't even sure what she was stuffing into the tote bag at this point.  She knew what he wanted and she was beginning to feel guilty about refusing to forgive him.  

Shun had hurt her immensely; it was gut wrenching, heart breaking, intensely painful and instantaneous.  He hadn't believed her, and it actually appeared he was going to defend the damn dragon youkai.  This breaking of the trust she had placed in him was more painful than anything Inuyasha had ever done during the entire time she spent in the Feudal Era with him.  She wasn't sure how much longer it would take before she forgave Shun, but with the beginings of this guilty feeling, she knew it wouldn't be much longer. 

Kagome put her tote bag and pocketbook on the end of the kitchen counter, then went to kiss her mates goodbye.  After giving Sesshoumaru a hug and kiss, she went over to Shun, and leaning down gave him a quick kiss on the lips.  When he put an arm around her to give her a hug, she started to stiffen.  Sesshoumaru's voice caused her to turn within Shun's arm. 

"Kagome, what time will this class be done?"  Sesshoumaru was looking at her with an amused expression on his face. 

Kagome wondered what the look was for, but didn't have time to question him.  "It should be over by noon.  Why?" 

"I was thinking we would meet you for lunch when you were done."  Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to the business section of the newspaper. 

Kagome almost jumped out of her skin when she felt Shun nuzzling her neck, then gently begin kissing his mating mark.  She suddenly realized that he had pulled her half way onto his lap.  His deep voice quietly asked, "How about I drive you to this class, that way we won't have to worry about two cars?" 

"That's okay, I can drive myself there, Shun."  Kagome extricated herself from his grasp,  gathered her belongings, and hurried towards the garages and her car. 

Sesshoumaru smirked at Shun.  "Don't worry, she can ride home with you, and I'll drive her car back."  His attention returned to the newspaper, but he wasn't seeing it as he thought back to the night Kagome told him what exactly had happened.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

Sesshoumaru had gotten out a couple of bottles of beer, handing one to Haru, the converstation continuing as they went out to the patio, so he could start the grill.  Shun joined them shortly, Sesshoumaru gladly handing over the chore of grilling the steaks.  

Heading back into the kitchen, Sesshoumaru found Kagome, with red, puffy eyes, setting places for dinner and getting out the salad and dessert.  Questioning why she had obviously been crying, she insisted there was no huge problem, and they could talk about it later.  

He kept his eye on her during dinner, making a mental note that she was unusually subdued, as well as reluctant to join in the conversation.  The entire evening, she clung to him, casting wary glances towards Haru and Shun.  Finally, he had enough and excused himself and Kagome, heading towards the family wing.  Knowing how much she enjoyed soaking in their personal hot spring, he figured it would relax her enough to talk about whatever was bothering her. 

They had lounged in the hot spring for a while, Kagome nervously chattering about nothing in particular, when Shun stuck his head in to let them know he was taking Haru back to the base.  After she asked him to make sure they were gone, she had broken down and, as he held her, she told him exactly what had occurred with Haru, then with Shun.  He was absolutely livid, and ready to kill both the males, or to kill one and do some serious bodily harm to the other.  How stupid could Shun get? 

Focusing back on Kagome, he dried her off, carried her to the bed and made sure she was heavily wrapped in his scent by the time she fell asleep.  She was still clinging to him, and even in her sleep had flinched away from Shun when he finally returned.  Sesshoumaru kept one eye on Shun, he wasn't about to let him wake Kagome up, or upset her in any way.  He would take care of Shun first thing in the morning, then later they would have a "talk". 

Sesshoumaru dragged Shun out of bed at dawn and hauled him down to the dojo, where after several hours of punishing kendo practice and sword work, informed one thoroughly beaten and bloodied demon that after he got cleaned up and had breakfast he expected him to appear in his office for a meeting.  Also, that he was not to disturb Kagome today for any reason whatsoever, and if she decided to join them for their meeting, it would be of her own volition and she was not to be upset further. 

Later, sitting in the office with mugs of coffee, Sesshoumaru laid down the law.  Haru was forbidden from setting foot within the gates of the shiro and was to be kept away from Kagome, period, otherwise he would be within his rights to kill him.  Should Haru again harass Kagome in any way, shape or form, she would be within her rights to purify him.  

If Shun still wanted to associate with the dragon demon after today, it would be at some other location outside of any property this Sesshoumaru owned.  Should there be an unavoidable social situation, Shun would run interference. 

Shun would apologize to Kagome for not believing her and not taking care of the problem sooner.  He would also have to work out a plan to gain her forgiveness, and would have to abide by any decision Kagome made on whether or not to forgive him.  It was not something this Sesshoumaru would be able to help him with. 

Sesshoumaru then reiterated what he had stated before Shun became Kagome's second mate.  Her safety was paramount, and not to be compromised in any way.  She was to be protected and loved, her concerns were to be taken seriously.  

If Shun needed some time to think things over or could not agree with any of these stipulations, he could go stay at the condo or with one of the other members of the pack.  Sesshoumaru pointed out that Shun knew the location of the front door. 

After Shun left his office, Sesshoumaru sat there for quite some time berating himself for not noticing sooner that something was upsetting Kagome.  Searching his memory for the times the dragon demon had been present at the shiro, the subtle signs were easy to pick up.  'Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.' 

Kagome wandered into the office, to settle in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.  "I should have come to you the first time I was uncomfortable around Haru.  I know you would have taken care of the problem right away and made everything alright.  You're my hero." 

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

Fin