*EDITED 11.03.07
I've done quite a bit of Sesshoumaru/Kagome art over the years, and quite a few people have commented on my choice of pairing. For some reason, I feel like addressing that here once and for all. I don't seek to convert anyone to my favourite pairing, but maybe after reading this, people will stop trying to convert me.
In any case, it's worth a try. So here goes.
Why this pairing when Inuyasha/Kagome is practically canon?
I feel that Sesshoumaru and Kagome complement each other very well. That's because, as opposed to the prevalent fanon image of him, I see Sesshoumaru as a true lord of his time: cultured, sophisticated and very much a snob (as well as casually cruel and haughty).
And Kagome, for all her faults, is a lot better educated that any woman of his own time.
Since this is a much better foundation for a relationship than puppy love, at least in my eyes, I'll assume they have at least a realistic shot at getting together.
But before they can have their happy beginning, we need to remember that Sesshoumaru is a snob with terrible daddy issues who also appears to hate his brother, and Kagome can be less than mature on occasion even though she eventually defaults back to her customary 'can't hurt a fly' disposition.
The question now is whether the way they perceive each other's faults is enough to keep the budding romance from happening. I say no, and this is why:
1. Who Sesshoumaru isn't.
For one, he's not a cheap vampire knock-off. He's not Sessh O'Maru the Barbarian from outer space either -- that one's half dog, half beefcake and likes to call his girls 'mate' and 'bitch' because he frankly can't be expected to remember all those names, especially not with all that blood being constantly pumped southwards.
He also refers to the sex act as 'rutting', presumably because it's so charming, and calls his eventual progeny 'pups'. He also keeps his bitch locked away because with all that (adorably feisty) talk of women's liberation she was just asking for it.
If she gets too uppity he bites her on the neck again just to remind her
whose twenty-children she carried to term in only five years. When she yells at him he just assumes she misses being pregnant. After all, who wouldn't be thankful for the opportunity to fill the world with tiny genetic copies of him?
Yeah. He thought so.
Also, the Sesshoumaru of my inner universe does not converse with his 'inner beast'--he's much too sure of who and what he is to fall prey to even mild schizophrenia.
He also does not divide the set of all adult females in Japan into (a) whores and (b) sweet virginal Kagome.
Why is this important?
Well, if Sesshoumaru were any of those things, Kagome would quite frankly poison him at dinner rather than live a life of glorified servitude with him. And she could pull it off brilliantly, too.
Seriously, though. If it were her dream to live in a cave/castle/dark place where her only contribution to interracial understanding would be to pop out little babies and not talk until talked to,
for her own protection, no less... well, she could have had that with Kouga, or any other chauvinist asshat.
And if Kagome actually were a fluff-headed cosmetics addict whose fondest wish was for Rin to call her 'mama', Sesshoumaru would kill her and enjoy it.
So I'll just assume they aren't, and go from there.
2. Genetics or upbringing?
In fanfic, youkai culture is often portrayed as tribal, or even as that most simple of organizational structures: the pack. Frankly, that's a bit too low-level for me to be believable, despite the appearance of Kouga's wolf tribe in canon.
The main difference between dogs and wolves is that dogs are more civilized, more attuned to humans. In fact, dogs are quite dependent on humans for their happiness, whereas wild dogs can be more vicious than any wolf. That might be quite interesting if I were to view inuyoukai only through the lens of their animal counterpart. I'm not.
Human-shaped youkai have proven able of conducting elaborate intrigue; they also appear to be power-mad loners.
Therefore, if they are organized in any way, I can definitely see a loose feudal structure, but youkai are first and foremost spirits of nature, not animals, no matter their form. Their ambitions and behaviour will probably not resemble those of animals in the least.
I can imagine them building ridiculously ornate dwellings in inacessible places just to prove they can. I can't imagine them living in caves if they don't have to.
There's also the question of Kagome. She's been roughing it for a while now for the sake of the mission, but she's a product of her time; I don't really see her wanting to live in some cave indefinitely, with only the barest of necessities. She'd want books, eventually. She'd want something to do beyond merely ensuring survival.
I see Sesshoumaru as being able to provide that.
Of course, if youkai society is a feudal one, that raises the question of tradition. After all, in this type of society, right and wrong is usually decided by whoever wields the most power, and the powerful must bow to a strong set of traditions (within limits, of course).
Viewed superficially this poses a problem because traditionally speaking, women don't have much of a place in a society like this. If not for two things: first, youkai women are powerful in their own right, so at least some of them will be equals; second, Sesshoumaru doesn't strike me as the type who allows himself to be restricted in any way; he is very likely to ignore all strictures posed upon him by his society and do as he pleases, dealing with the fallout when it comes.
Of course, if he ignores outside influence, he is also likely to ignore his own animal instincts, if he has them. Someone as anal-retentive as him will never allow himself to be controlled by impulse. If he acts upon emotion at all, he will do so in a controlled manner.
The way I see him he is highly intelligent; in order to be viewed as accomplished he will have to be not only an excellent warrior but an excellent poet and artist as well. And in order to be all that he needs to have a high appreciation of beauty.
His drawbacks are his complete confidence in his abilities and of course his terrible snobbery. In Kagome's eyes his lack of human morals or any type of compassion would be an added problem, but not an insurmountable one. I think he is the type who would enjoy a philosophical discussion or two on evolutionary matters. He might even alter his opinion if the presented arguments are convincing enough. And of course, his views on humanity are not necessarily worse than those of most human lords in the Sengoku Jidai to begin with.
3. So, why Kagome anyway?
Well, she might be a normal school girl at home, but let's face it, she
is unique in the Warring States Era. Her clothing and behaviour will definitely appear vulgar to him at first glance, but she's definitely not easy to ignore. She is a bit shrill, after all.
I don't think of Sesshoumaru as the type to fall in love (or even lust) just because he's seen a girl naked in some hot spring; I suppose there are quite a few naked girls available to an interested youkai, whether in hot springs or otherwise. But I think if Sesshoumaru is in lust with anything, that something just might be knowledge. He's already shown that he's not after absolute power at any cost, and information is the only other thing that might be of any value to him.
I will not expand on the various scenarios of how such a relationship could develop. There are a few excellent fanfics out there that have explored that better than I ever could.
But assuming the relationship has actually come to pass, I always ask myself one thing when I try to decide whether I buy it or not: What will they talk about in twenty years?
And then: Will there be anything left to share? Will they change each other for the better? Will the whole be greater than the sum of its parts?
Where Sesshoumaru and Kagome are concerned the answer for me is yes to all of the above. Of course, they can also end up making each other utterly miserable. That's always an option.
It's just not one I have fun contemplating.
Right. In retrospect, I'm not sure whether this long and disjointed diatribe actually serves any purpose, other than make me feel better and possibly alienate quite a few people. But I do feel better, and if anyone complains i can always claim it was the meds. My head does feel a little fuzzy...
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Cats and Dogs (Sesshoumaru/Kagome doujin, WIP):
- title page:
[link]
- page 02 [sketch]:
[link]
- page 03 [sketch]:
[link]
- page 04 [sketch]:
[link]
The whole story will be somewhere between 27 and 30 pages.
Noble
