Many Encounters In The West
AN: Updated 24/06/15
An Intrusive Encounter
It was a typically cold night for early winter, the sky showing that same sullen blue it had the night before. Kagome shuffled inside her out of place sleeping bag, hiding from the rest of her rag-tag group. She shivered silently as a swirl of icy air tickled the skin left on show from her modern sleepwear.
'I should have packed warmer things' she groaned before turning to face the group.
Unsurprisingly Inuyasha had caused Kagome to lose her temper yet again and now both where in what Miroku and Sango referred to as a "lovers tiff." Recently it had become a daily occurrence. That and to see both Inuyasha and Kagome on separate sides of the camp each and every the night.
Kagome watched the flames die down, Shippou had fallen asleep rather quickly that night, curled upon her only pillow. She hadn't the heart to move the little fellow,
'At least one of us can sleep' Kagome chuckled warmly. Her eyes turned to the last crackle of the fire, each dying flicker sent her into a deeper state of unconsciousness.
The night went too quickly, her eyes stung from the lack of a decent night's sleep and her hair matted from the bitter chill. It also appeared her stocks were beginning to dwindle.
'It's been three weeks since we had left Kaede's village. Three long weeks!' The modern teen pulled her hair in distress. The beauty the historic period bestowed around her was that of a fairy tale. With every trickling steam sparkling in the weaning winters sun, to the crisp wind that tormented her brittle locks. It was all so surreal. Kagome stilled the tears forming around her eyes, despite the beauty, she missed her family in the future so much. The midday sun had settled on the backs of the group. Each step taking her further away from the well. Kagome paused mid step, she had felt it again. An unyielding sensation, one that hitched her breath in her throat. Kagome turned towards her companions, who had also tensed from the pressure from an unwelcome spectator. Each nodded simultaneously, hands poised on weapons, it was time to move on and quickly.
The group had been restless ever since the half breed warned them of a demon's presence. One which has been following them ever since the bone eaters well. However the presence had remained hidden, what was its purpose? Why was it not attacking? With a gust of wind the presence was gone, and the rag tag group continued, hands still poised on their weapons.
By the third consecutive day Kagome had grown tired of the charade, to be honest the demons aura had become so comfortable to her, she no longer paid any attention to it. The irritated Inuyasha on the other hand was not so complacent.
"OI, Kagome" speak of the devil she rolled her eyes, instantly her annoyance began ticking like the time bomb. This all started when she had turned eighteen. Once again denied the trip home to the future, Inuyasha had become less patient if that was even possible. He had stopped calling her shard detector, that's always a bonus she chuckled.
"Kagome, you even listening to me?" that usually was strike one, of course she was listening, she always listened. "Ya know…"
'He we go' she signed.
"This demon is 'obviously' stalking us because of that stench you brought back with ya." That was deserving of a twitch, the first tick of her temper time bomb. "Why are you bothering with the stuff anyway, who you trying to attract?" he mocked. Strike two. "Probably more likely to get ya killed, from offending our superior senses" Inuyasha snickered. Strike three.
Emerald eyes shot a 'you're so dead' glare at the half demon. With a quick subduing word, Kagome stormed off into the forest, leaving her not surprised friends and Inuyasha in a Hanyou sized crater behind. In the distant a small smirk found its way onto an unlikely face.
'The half breed deserved that' he mused.
"Inuyasha" she breathed. Holding her head from the enormous headache now forming, it was solely frustration. Coming across the familiar mists she loved, the teen grabbed her towel she stomped off, glad to have found a spring nearby where she could relax, at least for but a moment.
The futuristic Miko had grown gracefully well, her usual tangled ebony tendrils were now longer and kept up and out of her way, with a few strands loose cut shorter shaping around her previously round face. A thin, white t-shirt loosely hung over her womanly frame, long legs once on show now hidden under loose cotton trousers. The Shikon no Tama was now blossoming into a delicious young women. Not listening to the fowl words being shouted to her she continued towards the spring
"If the demon wants me, he can have me" Kagome muttered knowing Inuyasha would have heard her quite clearly. Did she really just offer herself to the evasive predator?
A slight smirk left the lips of the now retreating demon. He had watched Kagome walk off, obviously infuriated and alone.
The teen couldn't even feel the demonic aura any more. However this didn't make her any less nervous. What made matters worse she could only touch the corner of her group's presence, she shook the thought away. This was no time to regret her actions, a soak was just what she needed. A small sigh of joy left her mouth, as she dipped her long fingers into the murky water. She undressed swiftly almost routinely, the trails they had walked recently were so narrow and so rocky, Kagome couldn't remember the last warm bath she had be allowed indulged in. Kagome shivered hugging her arms, those mountain streams were so cold, freezing in fact, but at least they were refreshing to drink, and so clean.
In the distance, the demonic onlooker watched as Kagome removed her garments eyes widened slightly when her strange undergarments where revealed. Cocking his head to the side, he turned away. Kagome smiled warmly, no amount of refreshing spring water would account for this, the warmth now hugging her legs as she stepped into the natural waters. The sound of a braking branch snapped to her attention. Her heart hitched, she wouldn't scream, she wouldn't give Inuyasha the satisfaction to play the hero. She stood still, eyes darting all over the place, she was thankful she was still wearing her laced briefs and a towel was covering her chest.
When another branch snapped, Kagome was almost tempted to call for Inuyasha. Turning her head to where the noise echoed throughout the area, she mentally kicked her stupid weak human body for not reacting. The slicing sound of a blade startled her out of her annoyance with her race, the soft ringing as the blade collided with the frozen ground, the sound she had herd time and time again, throughout her years with Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku. Kagome flung into normality. Her eyes meeting with golden orbs, eyes that were not Inuyasha's. But those gorgeous molten orbs of none other Inuyasha's brother, Lord Sesshoumaru.
Stepping towards Kagome his auspicious eyes glancing up and then down to the strange white garment covering her modesty, her cheeks flushed a brilliant Scarlett as she dunked herself back into the water. She frowned; her bangs covered her eyes, and only partially covering her rosy glow, glancing down at the cloudy water and then back up to the golden eyed saviour. That aura she had felt could not have been what was left of the lower demon, now nothing but dust upon Lord Sesshoumaru's feet.
'So that means' she shot a confused look towards her saviour.
"Why have you been following us, Lord Sesshoumaru?" She spoke calmly and clearly, trying not to show him any disrespect, she was at that particular moment rather undressed and probably offended him, not that it was particularly difficult for her to offend the mighty Lord Sesshoumaru. Kagome back tracked,
'Wait a minute, does that mean he has been spying on us, had he watched me…' her face reddened again, laced with annoyance.
Realizing her sudden uncomfortable aura, he glanced towards the demon he had just recently slain. Why had he slain this low demon for her, these were his lands after all, even when they travelled so close to the northern borders the group never once left his lands, therefore he concluded it was his right as Lord of the West, to observe the group. But slaying a demon, for the Miko, even to him it was uncharacteristic.
"This Sesshoumaru is intrigued" his long silver hair trickled in the wind as his eyes met with her crisp oceanic orbs. 'Oh I see, he finds us intriguing, like some lab experiment.' her sea soaked gaze shot up in offence. His expression was flat, as to be expected she scoffed.
"Intrigued?" She grumbled, repeating the demon lord. His lips curled upwards as he began to approach the women once again, those sun set eyes displaying amusement.
"How did you know it was I who has been following your group, Miko?" Kagome blinked she hadn't expected Sesshoumaru the lord of ice to strike up a conversation. Kagome thought about not answering, it had only been an educated guess at most. But as the Demon Lord was waiting for an answer, so she answered honestly.
"I don't really know, I just guessed" she mumbled. Knowing this would not satisfy him, she improvised "I just know only a strong demon can mask his aura, and the only two I know are you and Naraku, and well, Naraku is boastful not one to stick to the shadows" she added, thrilled with her sudden wisdom.
"Hn" he replied opening his mouth ever so slightly, Kagome waited patiently for him to speak. However in one swift motion he jumped from view. Before she could protest at his sudden abrupt departure, a loud yell sprung around the silence.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted, sword out swinging around carelessly "where is he, where is that bastard" Inuyasha held his sword tightly as he sniffed the air profusely. Despite only catching a whiff of Sesshoumaru's scent earlier, he wasn't sure however exactly were his half-brother was, but nevertheless if Sesshoumaru was involved it spelt trouble to him.
His bangs covering his eyes, there was no sign of the ice prince. Growling in defeat, he could not sense anymore him either, anger radiated off the half demon, and off Kagome.
"SIT!" Kagome yelled showing that same brilliant red that appeared across her cheeks as it did when Sesshoumaru had previously eyed her over.
Kagome was finally allowed to get dressed in peace, alone! She had heard Inuyasha muttering slanderous words as she wandered back into the make shift camp. Inuyasha giving her a somewhat half-hearted glare as she passed. Kagome was quick to fix an equally fierce gaze with him, before she continued walking off back towards her pack.
"Baka" she whispered as she ushered Shippou into her arms. Before tiredness kicked in and her eyelids dropped. Shippou settled down close to her, sizing up the Hanyou before he too let his eyes shut.
Sesshoumaru had engulfed her thoughts that night, and by morning Kagome was already irritated. Exactly what had he wanted? Huffing she sat up, the birds chirped happily as if greeting the group to another brisk morning. Kagome sighed, she may as well get up then. Reaching for her pink cardigan the oceanic eyed women continued to question her self. 'Why on earth would he follow us?
As the morning progressed she went over the same question, again and again. The stoic lord was quite the enigma.
"Kagome" a muffled voice pressed, she was still preoccupied 'why would Lord Sesshoumaru, the killing perfection' she mocked 'why would he of all people save me?'
"Kagome" the same voice from before pressed.
'I wonder if he will continue his interrogation' she giggled.
"OI WENCH!" Inuyasha yelled, belittling Sango's feeble attempts to wiggle the teen from her thoughts.
"WHAT" she screamed, the camp went silent... had she just overpowered Inuyasha's own growl?
Off in the distance, a small chuckle left the stoic lords face; he was indeed amused with the little Miko's fiery spirit. In fact she had just over shouted his idiotic half-brother. How extraordinary that the Lord himself had found it amusing. He quickly regained his usual stoic look. She may be intriguing, but he would never permit himself to chuckle at a lowly human again.
The group had set off once again in search of Naraku. Hours passed and Kagome decided that it was lunch time, her stomach started to growl painfully so. The small group stopped, each one sitting in their usual arranged positions, Miroku by his one and only love, Sango. Inuyasha usually irritated by how weak humans were when it came to travelling, perched himself upon a tree completely indifferent to the trio of humans, leaving one eye open on Kagome as she dropped her bag.
"Kagome?" The demon child piped. Thick black hair swayed as she turned to face her adopted son who was now eyeing her bag eagerly. Smiling Kagome shook her head and dived into the bag to retrieve what the little child wanted, Shippou squealed with glee as the brightly coloured box of what his mother had called juice was handed to him. The monk and demon thanked the Miko as she passed them each a canteen of water, as did Sango's companion the small parched cat demon as Sango had spilled some of her own water into a small cup.
Everyone being catered for Kagome decided to take the opportunity to freshen up, or to clear her head from all the nonsense from the previous night. Spotting a river to the east Kagome concluded it could be a good move. She smiled thinking of the cool water she desperately needed. It was true the northern part of the west district was somewhat overwhelming, the terrain rocky and even though it was winter, the walk was extremely challenging. She was just dying to have a cold splash of water. Kagome skipped off towards the water, catching her ebony hair to loosen it from its tangled mess of a bun. The slight breeze felt great in her free tresses, tickling her pale skin as she dipped the wash rag she had hidden in her pocket into the cool stream, her eyes taking in what was being reflected. She took time looking at her older face, the slight curve of her jaw and the once naive eyes of her youth now full of wisdom. She was different; for once she was not ashamed to admit she felt beautiful. Picking up the now dripping wash cloth, she less than gracefully threw it upon her burning complexion.
"So good" she exhaled in contentment, padding her face gently.
The sound of grass being trampled lightly caught her attention, she knew it wasn't Inuyasha. He was far too brash to step softly. Glancing over her slim shoulder, she analysed the stern Youkai lord eagerly. Sesshoumaru paused.
'Brave are we today Miko' he mused.
"You can stop there please, Lord Sesshoumaru" she stated, putting more emphasis on Lord. Kagome tugged at her clothes,
'Great, I look a mess' she complained sliding the straps of her top back over her shoulders, she had only adjusted them to cool her heated body. Brought on from hours of non stop walking, thanks to Inuyasha. Kagome was oblivious to the fact she had just redressed herself in front of a lord so calmly.
Now perfectly adjusted, Kagome turned quickly to great the ice lord formally. However fate had other ideas, her grip in the ground suddenly wavered and her clumsy nature kicked in.
'Don't fall, don't fall!' she pleaded. Yet as soon as the last plead left her thoughts the clumsy teen fell. Her hands stretched upwards instead of down. There being no way to push her away from the ground. Sesshoumaru rose a single brow
'Could this human really be that stupid, if she knew she was falling she should have pushed her hands towards the inevitable fall?' He scoffed, still the lord outstretched his hand towards her falling person. He had questions and a limited time to have them answered. Using his demonic power with great ease, he lifted her back up onto her feet, before she collided with the grass.
Of course he was expecting her face to be riddled with an emotion; her shock was to be expected, as was his own.
"You just touched me" she blurted out monotonously. Her unsure eyes poured into his softer ones.
"I am aware" was all he replied. She mentally smacked herself 'state the obvious' she silently cursed. He was still holding her, Kagome's eyes darted to the demon lord's hands, and his own eyes followed her gaze. She was extremely close to the stoic prince. She inhaled softly his scent filling her inferior senses.
"Fresh" she whispered... Sesshoumaru immediately stepped away, and with one swift motion flew away from the intrusive Miko.
AN: Thank you for reading x