Last time in Gettin' the Party Started in the Feudal Era: "I'm glad it worked… I'm glad I didn't have to face déjà vu all over again for nothing… At least you didn't pierce my skin with your claws like… InuYasha...did," she whispered, closing her eyes, and falling asleep peacefully in my embrace. My eyes softened immediately and I murmured so low nobody would hear, "I never would, my dear Kagome..."
Recuperation (In More Ways Than One)
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any other character related to the anime.
-Sesshomaru's P.O.V.-
"I'll kill my half-brother for not letting me check on her! I should've disposed of him long before that even. So he wouldn't have caused Kagome so much pain, dammit!" I growled, walking out of the main study with my childhood friend Dai. Dai merely chuckled, shook his head lightly, and responded, "They do travel together. He's just protecting her from any more harm that may come to her. As for Leiko..."
Clenching my fists, my harsh gaze turned from the floor to his complicated expression. "Uh...Let's drop that topic for now, shall we? I'll discuss it later with the others." "Good decision," I murmured, walking quicker and left him standing outside his personal study. I started thinking to myself, my face taking on the cold mask it usually assumed, and, looked around after a few minutes; I found that I'd strolled into the gardens.
I inwardly sighed, and walked over to a koi pond. Sitting on the lush green grass, staring moodily at the clear waters, I pondered whether I made the right choice in deciding to attend this festival. I sat there for what seemed to me like hours, but was only a few seconds before my thoughts drifted to Kagome. Her health condition. Her emotional status... Whether she would remember the kiss after such a complicated level of stress. Plus she'd been unconscious and unresponsive for three days. The festival had continued.
Sango, Tanashi, and Kaleshi all gave karaoke lessons in Kagome's absence, though most males requested their opinions on her health. Strangely, it made my blood boil. And I often found myself fingering my lips where the feeling of hers still lasted. The warmth, the kindness. After I had fallen into a light sleep after she was wounded, my half-brother refusing to let me sleep in her room, I had an...interesting dream involving her.
Little Rin had found the karaoke contraption to her liking, and was currently learning to sing a song called Say Ok by a young girl from Kagome's era named Vanessa Hudgens. (A/n: Disclaimer: I don't own Vanessa Hudgens or her song Say Ok. I don't know about you guys but I think Rin would be into music like hers. You can give me your opinion on the matter if you wish and I'll think about changing it.) A small smile graced my lips as a recent memory flooded my mind.
Flashback
Rin was twirling around the stage as the music played. Sango and Kaleshi were giggling and Tanashi was trying to hand Rin a microphone. She then proceeded in rolling her eyes as the little girl wouldn't take it and a game of "You Can't Catch Me" ensued. After a few minutes Rin took the microphone, her face turning serious, and sang in her lovely, light voice, "You are fine. You are sweet, but I'm still a bit naïve with my heart."
By the end of the song, Rin's cheeks were flushed, she was breathing heavily, and they all became quiet before breaking out into fits of laughter and cheers. Rin laughed along, bowing, and she turned to wave to me with a huge grin crossing her features. I smiled slightly, and clapped enthusiastically. She ran up to me, jumping into my lap, surprising me by hugging me closely. I hesitated before hugging her back tightly. "Good job, Rin," I murmured into her hair.
End Flashback
Kagome had somehow brought out my emotions all within a few days. Two nights ago while InuYasha was down at dinner, I had entered her room and watched her for a while. Thoughts about how she could be so kind, so innocent, and yet still survive with my half-brother amazed me. Then something incredible happened. She turned around in her sleep, now facing me, and I heard her murmur, "Oh, Sesshomaru." My jaw had dropped and my eyes had widened. For a moment I thought she'd woken up, so I rushed to her side. Taking her hand, I gazed down at her small, perfect face, concerned.
She had merely continued sleeping, her mouth slightly parted. I longed very much to meet her lips with mine just once more. As I was leaning in, I heard InuYasha coming from down the hallway, and, sighing, I left to her balcony. Hiding from view I watched as he entered and sat down in the opposite chair, merely watching her as I had done with a bored expression. I scowled darkly, wanting to rip his eyes out. I restrained myself from barging in and killing him and jumped off the balcony and landed on the ground below smoothly.
Snapping out of my reverie I looked to my left sharply as I heard somebody approach. I resisted the urge to repeat the gesture Kagome had executed a few days ago when Jaken appeared through the brush, disgruntled and hat askew. "Milord! Something has happened!" he nearly shouted, falling over as I stood up. "What is it?" I asked quickly, assuming it had something to do with Kagome. "It's Kagome! She woke up a few hours ago but now she has disappeared. Sango, Kaleshi, and Tanashi had decided to go down to the kitchens and bring her some food, but when they returned she was gone!
The most highly skilled trackers of the guests and guards have all tried to locate her but they've all failed. They cannot even sense her aura!" "And what of Leiko? Has she been spotted any today?" "No, Lord Sesshomaru." My worst suspicions had been confirmed. I did not respond, but instead walked off, quickly. Practically running through the halls I arrived at Kagome's room at last. Rushing in, I strode over to her bed, picked up one of her pillows, and put it to my nose. I rarely used this power; in fact, nobody other than Dai had seen me use it. I inhaled deeply, my beast recognizing the scent and storing it to memory.
My beast unleashed himself, my eyes tinting blood red, and I was suddenly on the prowl. Yes...I smelled Kagome here now. She got up, paced around the room, redressing, she sprayed some unknown perfume smelling fragrance on herself, throwing everyone else off, and exited her room. I followed that scent all the way down to the Eastern ballrooms. She entered various ballrooms, pacing the room, and then exited only to reenter another room. This confused my beast some, and after some persuading, continued with the search.
Coming across another hallway of deserted ballrooms, my beast caught the unusual scent Kagome had covered herself with. Strolling to the very last door, I stopped short when I heard soft pitter patters of bare feet, and soft music playing in the background. I closed my eyes shut and inhaled deeply. Opening them, I smiled, opened the door ever so slightly and peered inside. (Disclaimer: I do not own Michelle Branch or her song All You Wanted.) "So lonely inside, so busy out there, and all you wanted was somebody to care..." I heard Kagome sing lightly, where she was waltzing, holding her arms around an imaginary form, with her eyes closed, a small smile gracing her lips.
Her hair was let down into a simple, low ponytail, flowing freely at her shoulders. She hadn't dressed her face up with any make-up. It wasn't as though she needed any. The way the sunlight bounced off her pale skin... She had just thrown on a simple kimono. The color was that of a plain, light gray. The obi colored a dark orange with purple bat like forms dotted here and there. It was obviously a kimono from her time, for it was foreign to me. She had midnight black fingerless gloves on, her nails painted a silvery white. Her socks matched the color of her gloves, coming to her ankles. 'Also objects from her own time...' I thought, stunned by her simple beauty as she danced around the large room.
I opened the door fully, silently. I walked up behind her as she turned her back to me, her front facing the wide windows that made up ¾ of the far wall. As she turned back around, I placed my only arm around her waist. 'This is one of the disadvantages of not having two arms...' I thought, inwardly growling. She gasped, her eyes snapping open, and looked up at me, relief showing in her eyes. "Sesshomaru..." she whispered, her arms snaking around my waist, as she snuggled her head against my chest, sighing contently.
"Should you not be resting? You have the whole castle searching for you, you know?" I inquired, lifting her lightly, and setting her back down, her feet covering my own. I started to dance around in circles to her low, soothing music, her legs moving with my own. "I know I should be resting...but my wounds do not hurt so much anymore. It's been three days after all. And, yes, I do know. I threw them all off though by using my newest perfume," she murmured the last part smugly. I chuckled, holding her tighter, and we both exhaled happily in unison.
Suddenly, she looked up at me, resting her chin where her forehead was a few seconds before, with a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "Sesshomaru...Have you ever heard of the holiday called Halloween?" I looked down at her, my eyebrow shooting up, and I smirked down at her. "Is this Halloween you speak of the reason for your attire?" "Mhm," she mumbled, nestling her head back in its previous position. Her small response made me laugh out, squeezing her. I had not acted like this since the times my mother was still alive. It felt good, laughing and smiling more often. Though the unused muscles in my face were sore from doing so. "No, I do not know it," I said, resting my face on the top of her head, her hair muffling part of my speech. I inhaled deeply, her hair was the only thing she didn't spray with the strange smell.
She laughed her tinkling laughter and began to explain it to me. "Well, it's a holiday where everybody dresses up as anything they want to be. Some costumes are scary, the teenagers and adults wear costumes like that to scare the young children. It's also a holiday where you get free candy. You just go up and knock on somebody's door. They open it, you tell them a joke, they give you candy, and you both say, "Happy Halloween!" to each other and you move on to the next house. It's just another holiday to bring families closer together...but it's my favorite." "What would you dress up as?" I inquired before I had time to think the question through. "Uh...I'm not sure. I've not celebrated it since before I fell through the Bone Eater's Well..." she trailed off, deep in thought.
I did not feel like moving other than the gentle sway we'd both taken upon ourselves. However, I could hear Dai, Jaken, and other numerous people calling our names. I inhaled again, this time away from Kagome's intoxicating scent, and I could smell lunch being put together. "Hm...It would appear that, unfortunately, lunch has been prepared. The others are probably worried about you," I informed her regretfully. She looked up at me, and I swore there was a mischievous glint in those pools of brown. Her eyes also sparkled with that same glow I'd seen very few times before I'd gotten to know her. It made my heart swell and she murmured, standing on her tip toes, "Thank you, Sesshomaru," She closed her eyes and placed a passionate kiss upon my lips. Her lips were sweet, warm, caring... The lips I remembered from three days ago, the lips I longed to feel again in those past three days. Therefore, I could not help myself when I asked permission into her mouth by licking her lips. She parted hers ever so slightly and I entered cautiously, not wanting to surprise her. Afterwards, both our tongues battled for dominance. In the end she won out though, I was too mesmerized by her even sweeter tasting mouth to concentrate.
We parted simultaneously; thank the Kamis that we did, because just a minute after that InuYasha, Sango, Miroku, and Dai burst into the room, with looks of relief on all their faces...except one. InuYasha walked right up to me, growling, and stuck his finger right between my eyes. I merely looked down at him with a look of amusement on my face as he shouted, "Why the Hell are you in here with Kagome?! Don't you know she should be in bed, dammit! And why is your smell on her? DID YOU TOUCH HER!?" Kagome and I exchanged glances and just burst out laughing. Laughing that I couldn't control any longer, not with her around, not with her bubbling happiness back. They all looked at me, except Kagome that is, like I'd gone mental. Perhaps I had; I did not care at the moment though. I was practically falling onto my knees from laughing so hard. Dai was looking at me with wide-eyes as he muttered, "I've not seen you laugh this hard since...well, over centuries ago, Sessho." My eyes were starting to water and I shook my head, trying to clear them, and stood up, helping Kagome stand, too.
Clearing my throat, finally getting my hysterics in control, I said with a serious face, "I know, but the expresson of murder on my pitiful half-brother's face was priceless. Especially with that tone. I could not contain my laughter any longer. Others in this room are just bubbling with it." I pointedly glanced at Kagome, who smiled with a faint blush coming onto her already rosy cheeks. "Yes, well...lunch is ready. Let's go eat, shall we? We must also put everyone's worries to rest," Dai murmured, exiting the room, trying to conceal a large grin. Sango and Miroku, hand in hand, walked out, looking back and their faces, also, held the same identical grin. Kagome rushed around the room, gathering her boombox, her album of CDs, and strolled back to my side. I smiled briefly, and exited the room at a slow pace for her to keep up with. InuYasha was following behind us, I saw when I glanced back, with a dark look on his face. He caught my glance and growled lowly, too low for Kagome to hear. I merely chuckled, took Kagome's things, and informed her to go catch up with the demon slayer and monk. She did just that, with a huge smile on her face, thanked me, running off.
A few thirty minutes later, after much explaining, more announcements, and apologies, we were all sitting at a big table. The occupants were Kagome, Dai, Raidon, Yasuo, Nyoko, Yutsuko, Iku, Sango, Miroku, Rin, Shippo, InuYasha, Tanashi, Kaleshi, Hikiro, Paion, and myself. (A/n: What a big table... but I couldn't exclude any of them. They're so awesome, or they shall be... I'm not sure who Hikiro and Paion might be from my actual friends. I'll think about it though. :D ) The ladies were all whispering excitedly, glancing every so often at Dai, Raiden, Yasuo, and me. It made us nervous, and Raidon kept asking them, "What the Hell are you girls giggling about?!" Later, as everyone was getting up, stretching, going outside to the many entertainments, Iku came up to me of all people. She asked shyly, "Lord Sesshomaru, we were wondering, since you are the most strict, if it would be okay if us ladies set up our own entertainment in a few nights?" I blinked, stunned, and just nodded, dumbfounded. The girls all squealed, ran up, and actually hugged me. 'Damn. I must be going soft...' I thought, patting them all on their backs.
They all rushed outside, to the gardens, and we all followed, curious. As we all entered a circular clearing with various types of flowers and shady trees, the ladies, Shippo, and Rin all rushed around (A/n: Anime style, eh? I can picture that.). They kept informing Kagome numbers, which I assumed were measurements, and then sat against a large willow, and looked over the numbers Kagome had recorded down on a sheet of paper. Dai and I exchanged worried glances; maybe I had agreed to a horribly bad thing. Rin stood up, ran over to me, tugged on my kimono sleeve, and asked in an innocent voice, "Lord Sesshomaru, do you know how many people there are here at the festival?" I looked up sharply to where all the girls were pretending (and not succeeding) to look inconspicuous, and then glanced to Dai. He merely shrugged, nodded his head, and went back to peering at the ladies with one eyebrow raised. "Hm... On the day of the guests' arrivals, we counted about 255 people," I paused, kneeling down, and looked into her eyes calmly. "Why is it that you want to know?" She gulped, suddenly looking nervous, glanced back at the ladies and Shippo, and murmured, "Uh, no reason. Thank you, my Lord!"
She quickly ran away, before I had time to even think about snatching her back, and whispered the number into Kagome's and Sango's ears. They shrugged, Kagome scrawling the number down, and caught our looks. They merely smiled sweetly, stuck their hands up and wiggled their fingers at us. Directly after that they dropped their hands and went back to their business. "Well, it would appear that we won't be getting any answers from them. So, I suppose we'll just have to find out when they decide to...do whatever it is they're doing," Raidon muttered, walking off, back into the castle. Yasuo followed after him, yelling for him to wait up. I remained behind with Dai, though, and he gestured for me to follow. Leading me away, we strolled across a bridge, and stopped in the middle. He leaned over, crossing his arms and placing them on the railing. "Ahem," he cleared his throat, and then continued, "what were you and Kagome doing in that empty ballroom?" As he finished the question one of his eyebrows shot up and he had a knowing smirk on his mouth.
"We were just dancing. That was all that occurred," I ground out. "Sure, that's why as we neared the rooms both your auras were spiked. That's why your scent is on her lips and hers on yours," he teased, grinning broadly now. I growled at him, and attempted walking away when he grabbed onto my arm and pulled me back. "I'm just kidding. She's an extraordinary young lady. She's managed to do something nobody has been able to do in generations," he trailed off, looking down into the water. I glanced at him sharply, and inquired nonchalantly, "And just what is it that she's managed to do?" "She's managed to bring out the child in you. She's brought out the playful side of you. She's melted your old, cold heart of stone in just a matter of days," he said, now fully serious. My eyes widened in realization as his words hit me and my beast informed me, "...He's right, you know." He continued when he saw that I wasn't going to respond anytime soon. "Not even I could do that and just look, we're childhood friends. She's very special, there's something about her..." I merely nodded, sighing, and grabbed a hold of the railing with my one hand. "Thanks, Dai," I murmured, looking down to the water.
Dai spun around, eyes wide, and jaw dropped. "Did you actually just say that to me, Sessho?!" he inquired, eyes panicky. I chuckled, my eyes closing partially, and looked up at the clouds that were passing overhead. "Sessho, it's no laughing matter. You've never thanked anyone!" I glared at him and growling, muttered, "If you keep calling me Sessho..." "I'm teasing, Sessho..." "I know! It gets on my nerves though!" "Exactly! Why do you think I use that term? For my best interests? Hell, no." I sighed deeply, turned, and walked down off the bridge, and started towards the castle. He ran after me, yelling, "Hey! Wait up, Sessho!" I laughed, running now, and as I reached the entrance, got inside, I turned around and shut the door in his face. He just gave me a hard look and gestured that he was going to kill me later. I laughed, ran off, and headed towards my room. I heard his footsteps behind mine, but I knew he was just heading towards his own room as well. 'How could such a young girl change me as Dai noted? She's such an innocent young girl, too. Kami knows how she put up with my insolent half-brother...' I mused. "What're you doing, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken's voice cut into my thinking. I snapped out of it, looked down at him, and rose one eyebrow, silently questioning what he was talking about.
"Why do you have your fingers upon your lips? And why is your face so soft often now?" he inquired, staring at me like I was a lunatic. I realized then, sheepishly, that I had been touching my lips again as I was thinking of Kagome. I quickly pulled my hand away, put on a hard, cold look, and stated, "Do not question my motives, Jaken." With that said, I stormed off "angrily" and reached my room in a matter of minutes. I rushed inside, closing the door, and locking it. I sighed heavily, thinking, 'What have you done to me, Kagome?...'
Posting up the next chapter soon! It'll be from Kagome's point of view, obviously. I just felt that I needed to get something out to you guys. I've been really busy. My mind has wandered during school and I daydream, therefore, if the story's good enough, I start working on it more, writing it and stuff. Well there's like three stories going on now that I've got. Only two main ones... But I'm so happy, my hits have gone up to over 3400. :D But, yeah... So. I'll be working on Kagome's point of view now, and then probably the normal point of view, and I'll TRY, and get the Halloween party chapter out in time for Halloween. I need your guys' opinions though. Do you think Kagome would look good in a Kandy Corn costume, like I do? That's what I think she should be for the story. If you guys have other options please inform me of them.
Hope you like the chapter. I'll post up ASAP.
Okay, well, this is just an add-on, but anyway... Yesterday, I grew bored after school, so with nothing to do, I started to...doodle. I doodled what Kagome would look like as a "Kandy Korn Witch". I think it turned out pretty good as a doodle. I mean, Kagome doesn't look that much like Kagome, but, yeah. I'm gonna try and see if my friend Abby could scan it up online (because my father has yet to hook up the new scanner or printer x.x;) and I'd probably put it up on my deviant, photobucket, myspace, bebo, etc. That whole thing. But anyway. My hits have now passed 4000! Yay. :D
