NOTE: This story is a prequel-drabble for Koukyuu. It will not, right away, be a Sess/Kag. It might, before getting to the Sess-loving, include a small lemon with an OC...just a warning.
VI
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed on the petite female playing in the courtyards with Rin. She was ajdusting well to life in his court -it had been rough at first. The demon's around them preyed on the weak, and the little miko looked...frail. The powerful dog demon blinked slowly as said female let out a small yelp in surprise. The kit had snuck up on her. He found a small smirk lifting his lips, and quickly brought a hand to his mouth, eyes going hard. He couldn't afford such weakness, but he had made his choices.
It had been years since the defeat of Naraku. The jewel, even now, rested on the miko's neck, safe behind the many spells she had weaved around it. She had said she was only holding onto it for safekeeping -she worried about tainting it with an impure wish. Inuyasha and the monk had sent several missives with ideas for a supposedly 'pure' wish over the years, but she had turned down each one. She was careful, was his miko. Once more, Sesshomaru found himself in this quarrel with his inner self. She was not his...he was only holding onto her for safekeeping, like she did with the jewel. Eventually, someone would come along...and take her. His jaw clenched at the thought, and clawed hands dug into the wood beneath them as he leaned over the window. Yes, someone would eventually win his miko's heart, and then her light would be gone from his eyes. He knew, just as he knew with Rin, that humans only lasted for so long...they weren't something he could keep forever.
His eyes landed on the miko once more. Kagome. She had his respect, his protection, and...if he would but allow it...his heart. She had proven to him, time and again, just how pure, how good she was. A selfless, peace-seeking, motherly soul such as hers should run from his very presence. She did not belong in this world -this world of politics, back-stabbing, and power-seeking bastards. His court was no place for someone as delicate as her -but he had no other choice. He would not, could not, bear to send her away from his presence when she had so innocently followed him after the final battle, begging for him to train her in swordsmanship so that she could better protect her kit.
He, being the selfish, power-hungry demon that he was, had allowed her to follow him. They had only talked during the two months their groups had been joined leading up to the battle, combining efforts to locate and defeat Naraku. But it had been...a pleasant two months, full of thoughtful and playful conversations held late at night, when the others were sleeping. He had known, weeks before the battle, that the small miko had begun to develop feelings for him, but she had hidden them admirably, only small changes in her manners giving her away. A small touch here, the vicious response she had towards his half brother's remarks on her attitude towards him. He had quite enjoyed seeing the male forced to kiss dirt.
But now, he was faced with a dilemma...his eyes once more found the female in question. Truthfully, she was a very likable person, and he, the great killing perfection, had fallen head over heels for her over the last few years. Rin was nearing a woman's age, and he was well aware that the miko had long since been at that age. He was duty-bound to arrange a mating for Rin...and his advisers were pushing for him to arrange one for the miko as well. He had argued, previously, that she was not ready to protect herself, so he would not push her off on another male until she was. Now...now the miko had bested his captain of guard, and he could no longer claim her dependent on his protection.
What was he to do?
