The Big Book of One-Shots

I Can Tell You're Lying (Sesshomaru x OC)

Kat watched as Sesshomaru continued to try to figure out his healing sword. He always specifically asked to be alone when he did this and she always snuck back to watch. She still hadn't figured out if he knew she was there or not. She'd never had much success sneaking up on him in the past and wondered if he just didn't care if she was there or if he was really so deep in concentration that he didn't notice.

If you didn't know him, you would assume that he was currently calm, collected, and completely focused. She knew him well enough by now now though to know that the more closed off he was, the more frustrated he was. "How long have you been watching?", he asked out of the blue. The question took her off guard, not because he knew she was there, but because he hadn't known all along. "You're slipping. I'm always there.", she informed him, only half teasing.

He took a moment to respond, as if embarrassed, "Not much to see," he said, "Any commentary that you would care to add?". Now it was her turn to be quiet for a moment. Was he..., "Are you asking for my help?", she asked, taken aback. He chose not to dignify that with an answer. Instead he just stood there patiently. Sometimes she hated that patience.

"What do you focus on when you try to use the sword?", she asked, sounding to her own ears like some sort of tutor. Someone who knew what they were doing, which she did not. "The sword, of course.", he replied.  "What do you think powers the sword?", She tried. An idea was starting to form in the back of her head. If Teseiga was Tessaiga's counterpart... "It comes from my father's powers.", he replied matter of factly. He was starting to get irritated. "I think there's more to it. I'd like to try an experiment." she told him.

First though, she asked, "Sesshomaru, do you care about me?". He was clearly shocked by the question. You could even see it on his face for a millisecond before his cold mask came back. "You are a member of my party, and therefore under my protection, but I am not so silly as to form sentimental attachments to other beings.", he explained. She rolled her eyes, "You're full of crap. Ya know that?". He didn't comment, so she forged on. "Use your sword on me.", she told him. His jaw tightened slightly, along with his grip on his sword. She recalled how he'd slashed with that sword at Jaken, his ridiculously faithful servant, just to test his theory that the sword didn't cut. He now knew it to be harmless, yet still hesitated to strike. She wondered what was different.

She removed her dagger and slit her palm open. She watched Sesshomaru's catlike eyes widen and blood dripped from her hand. "Now try.", she said, trying not to smirk. His sword flew from its scabbard and towards her outstretched arm. She felt the wound close and its sting fade. She was grinning now. "Your father's swords were powered by love and compassion. A desire to heal and protect his family and loved ones. He left Inuyasha a sword of protection, which he first learned how to use when protecting my cousin. He left you a sword of healing, which you first used to bring back a little girl who's helped you. If you wish to use the sword at will, you must learn to channel love and compassion. You have to care about your patient and want to help them.", she was rambling a bit, but he'd never minded her rambling, so neither did she right now.

She could see in his eyes the confusion that he kept out of his voice as he said, "As you can see, this makes it useless to me. I don't care for others and can't activate the sword.". Her brows drew together in confusion until she realized that her hand was still covered in the blood that had flowed before he'd healed her cut. Her face became an "O" of comprehension before she told him, "The cut's closed silly. Your sword heals flesh, it doesn't clean up the blood," she fished out her flask, "See for yourself.", she poured the water over her palm and show him her undamaged (while, aside from some old scars) hand.

He stared at her hand for a moment, and then his eyes went blank the way they do when he feels vulnerable and overcompensates with his mask. Why would gaining the use of a powerful magical item put him on edge? What was going through his head? Well, isn't that the question of the century, she thought to herself. What goes through Sesshomaru's head?

"Compassion is a human weakness, one which I do not possess. Perhaps that is how Tessaiga works, but if I have successfully used Teseiga then it must function differently.", he insisted. Seriously? Did he really think that she believed him? Why did he find it so important to come across as utterly ruthless and emotionless anyway? Was it a demon court thing maybe?

Well, survival tactic or not, she rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not Inuyasha you know.", she told him, exasperated. "And what does that mean, Katana?", he asked. She loved that she had the ability to confuse him, but right now his uncharacteristic denseness was annoying her. "It means," she explained, "That I know you. I know that you're full of crap and I know that buried in it is a heart that's not quite as stony as you want people to think.". For perhaps the first time since she'd met him, Sesshomaru's eyes flashed with nervousness. "What makes you say that?", he asked.

I raised a brow and spoke my mind, "You don't want you're brother dead. In fact, you'd rather prefer him alive. That's why you hold back every time you guys fight. You give him every possible chance to escape. You purposely waste time chatting, teasing, showing off. You're never so inefficient with your kills, because you're trying your best not to kill him without him catching on. And when you brought Rin back? That wasn't just an experiment. You could've chosen anyone. That village was filled with fresh corpses. Not only did you then chose to only help Rin, but you let her travel with you. You've basically adopted her as your own daughter, even though she's human. That wasn't part of some experiment. You grew attached to the little girl who nursed you back to health. And since then, you totally freak when she's in danger. Guess what? That's called love. You don't care for many people Sesshomaru, but you're not heartless and I'm getting real sick and tired of you pretending to be."

He seemed taken aback. He recovered quickly though. "And you don't pretend? Pretend to be indestructible? Pretend your not harboring pain? Pretend that there's nothing wrong and that you don't cry yourself to sleep?," each comment felt like barbed wire ripping through her, "You're always pretending to have the strength to do things on your own because asking for help or refusing to offer it feels like weakness to you. Tell me, what did Naraku do to bring your wrath? It wasn't just on behalf of your friends, not if you're also looking for one of his servants. Did he do something to make you feel vulnerable? Is that why you feel the need to compensate?". He questioned as relentlessly as she'd lectured.

She just wanted him to shut up. She would even answer those awful questions to make him stop asking, "You want to know my beef with Naraku? Fine! I'm pissed at him for conceiving me! That servant of his that I'm hunting for? She ran away because she was pregnant. At four years old she dumped the kid in the woods to die. But that wasn't enough! No, not for Naraku's offspring. When she found out that the girl was found and adopted, she came back for her. Twelve years later! When she wasn't home, she tortured and killed the girl's family trying to get her location! I came to to find my house burned out and full of corpses, my hands where stained with blood and I spent a year thinking that I'd killed them! Lost control and my memory. I finally pieced together the truth after I met her again, on this side of the well. THERE! Are you happy now!?! I'm not pretending or lying now. You have your answers. Now will you PLEASE just SHUT UP!"

He then did the single most un-Sesshomaru thing that she had ever seen him do. He HUGGED her. WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROTTING HOTEL!! His single arm held her close as his hand cradled her head. She couldn't help but return the hug. She held on to him like a lifeline and just breathed in his scent. Dog fur and cherry trees. Slowly, she calmed. She could feel him physically relaxing.

"Alright," I told him, "It's your turn to be honest." He just gave me a look and said, "No.". I just laughed at him.