Persistence by Jupe

Haunted

Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi

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He supposed he had seen stranger things. In a time where monsters, demons and magic were commonplace, a spirit really wasn't much of a stretch.

But he was still surprised.

Why, of all possible spirits he could have happened upon, had it been her?

And why, of all possible outcomes of meeting a spirit, had this one occurred?

Really, it was rather inconvenient.

"Miko, desist."

Two words. Sigh.

Someday, he'd find a way to condense the phrase into one word. Then it'd be on par with "Die." He liked that one.

"Why should I, oh great and mighty Sesshoumaru-sama?"

He was liking "Die," more and more as the days progressed.

Too bad it was nearly impossible to kill a body-less soul.

"Miko."

"Youkai."

"Wench."

"Bastard."

"Bitch."

"Son of a bitch."

"Ka-go-me."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Desist. Now."

He could feel her pout.

"But I like playing with your hair! It's all silky and soft!" she whined, tugging on her current fistful with ethereal hands.

"Kagome."

"Haaaai."

And, finally, she let go of his hair. Now he could concentrate on tracking the assassin.

"Sesshoumaru?"

...Or not.

"Are you sure you can't use Tenseiga to get rid of me?"

He sighed.

"If Tenseiga were able to be used for such a purpose, this Sesshoumaru would have done so when you were found."

She sighed.

"I know, I know. It's just really boring having to travel around with you all the time. All you do is kill stuff."

"I wasn't aware that you were bound to this Sesshoumaru."

"Well, I'm not. But nobody else can see me!"

"Hn."

Silence. The assassin had lingered here... perhaps for repast?

"Sesshoumaru?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure you can't find Kikyou?"

Sesshoumaru repressed the urge to snarl.

"If the undead miko were in Japan, this Sesshoumaru would have slain her long ago."

"I thought so. You hate me that much?"

He didn't bother answering such an obvious question. Maybe now, finally, he could search out the assassin...

"Well, I hate me that much, too."

He paused.

That was certainly an odd notion.

"You hate yourself?"

"Of course!"

...

Curious.

"For what reason?"

"Oh, this and that. I'm sure my reasons would bore you to tears."

"Humor me."

"If you insist. Well, first of all, I hate me for getting myself killed in such a stupid way. Being skewered by a weak lizard youkai in a hot spring and then drowning... Stupid."

"Indeed."

"Secondly, I hate me for hating Kikyou. If this is what she had to live through every day of her un-life, I can understand why she was so cold."

"You certainly have managed to keep from becoming 'cold'."

"Well, yeah, but I've had lots of practice."

"Hn."

"Thirdly, I hate me for falling in love with people I have no business falling in love with."

"The hanyou."

"Yeah, him. And his brother."

Yes, quite a pit-

Wait, what? What did she just say?

"You know, I think I'll just move along now. See if I can find someone else with a magical life-giving sword that I can talk at all day lo-"

"...Kagome."

"Eh-he-hmm?"

"...Stay."

"Why should I, oh great and mighty Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Ka-go-me."

"...Okay."

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AN: First fic on this site. Huzzah for pointless waffy fluff! Go hug a kitty. Or something.