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Scientific Method

Chapter 3

5 Centuries Long Promise


The night was upon them and the Daiyoukai had allowed her human rest. Kagome silently gathered her cooking utensils and made some instant Ramen. Dinner time was not as energetic and lively as it was with her party, but she could live with this. This arrangement was, after all, only temporary.

She sighed for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day and reclined back against her schoolbag. Protests ensued from every inch of her body, but she squelched the wince of pain from her face. There was no need to voice her agony to the cold and uncaring Lord she was traveling with. Inuyasha was undoubtedly a jerk, but Sesshomaru was, too. The worse of it was that she could at least get some form of revenge with Inuyasha, but when dealing with the Daiyoukai, she could only stay quiet and eat all of her anger. He would just kill her to end her whining. Yes, Inuyasha was definitely more human—both genetically and emotionally.

"Do you travel during the night?" Sesshomaru's cold voice suddenly asked. He wasn't looking at her but at the horizon, as if studying something.

Kagome's mouth dropped in dismay and she thought over her answer carefully. "Not very often," she supplied miserably. "We need sleep."

Sesshomaru snorted under his tree and she almost thought he muttered something to himself, but he merely crossed his arms under his chest and ignored her. She took that as a hint that she was allowed her rest and he was not happy about it.

"Why am I traveling with you, Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome asked in soft tones, but with a harder tone that hopefully gave him the impression she was serious in her question.

Golden amber fired eyes slanted to her smaller, Ramen-eating form with narrowed eyes. He kept his eyes on her for a few seconds before he once again turned to look away. "Jaken is with Inuyasha."

Kagome raised an eyebrow questioningly. Apparently he thought that was enough of an explanation—perhaps for him it was—but for her it was only a confusing statement. Maybe if she had been born a youkai she would have been able to understand him. "I still don't understand."

Sesshomaru's face took on a scowl. Her human mind was starting to irritate him. Didn't she need to rest? He planned to ignore her, but her burning stare made him do otherwise. "Inuyasha needed information. This Sesshomaru supplied him with Jaken…temporarily."

Kagome nodded her head, understanding the first part of the first agreement the brothers had reached in a century. "That makes sense but…why did I have to come with you…temporarily?"

Sesshomaru sat straighter and sighed. His stare fell on the small fire lighting their camp and he wondered over his motives for asking for the exchange. It was easy and simple, yet he disliked explaining himself. However, she had complied enough with his demands and had behaved properly. She deserved a little merit. "Do you not come from the future? This Sesshomaru also wanted to learn."

Kagome almost dropped the empty cup of Ramen at his declaration. Awed brown eyes met him in utter surprise and her mouth opened and closed a few times, "You wanted to learn?" asked Kagome in something almost resembling a squeak.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, offended, and turned away. "Hn."

Kagome sat straighter and crossed her legs. She stopped to think things over again, "You never listen to the things I say." It was the truth.

"Is not this Sesshomaru's fault that most of the time you seem to be broken in the head. The things you speak of are impossible," the Daiyoukai replied defensively and kept his eyes away from her searching gaze.

Kagome grinned knowingly. "Someday, Sesshomaru-sama, you will realize I speak nothing but the truth. I expect you to honorably come to me and tell me I was right when that time comes."

These words had Sesshomaru turning back and locking eyes with her. He studied her determination for a second before his own eyes lit with mirth. "I believe you will be long dead by then."

"Not at all," Kagome was quick to add, satisfied that he had not denied the unspoken promise. "I might just be very young. Perhaps…five hundred years will be enough time for you."

"Hn." The worse thing about it all was that she could be right.


To be continued…