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She sat there for a few minutes, before huffing and pouting up at the stoic youkai.
"You know, Sesshomaru-sama, if I can't heal myself this trip is going to take even longer than it was going to originally."
"You are threatening this Sesshomaru, miko." It was not a question, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Nevertheless, I cannot help. This is something you must do on your own."
She gave him her best "go die" glare but, honestly, who can actually out-glare the Lord of the Never-Ending Scowl? She sighed and tunneled back down into herself, wondering why she had even thought he would help in the first place. The amoeba of power was still there, but instead of just grabbing at it, she tried directing it. Working this way, she aimed the power towards her hurt ankle, and felt warmth there, overtaking the pain. When she opened her eyes, the swelling and redness was gone. Her ankle was as good as new!
"Kagome! You are okay!" Rin's cheerful voice caught her attention.
"Yes, Rin, I am!" She replied, just as cheerfully. "No thanks to Sesshomaru-sama." She shot him a baleful look.
"If this Sesshomaru did not think that you could heal yourself on your own, miko, he would not have given you the information." His deep, smooth voice turned her head once again, and she missed the barely hidden compliment completely, cutting straight to the thought that he was hiding information about her powers from her.
"Sesshomaru-sama, what else can I do?" She was too curious to be angry with him.
"This Sesshomaru does not believe you ready for such information as of yet." He turned around and began to walk away. "Come. We leave now." She looked around in surprise to see that the fire had been put out and cleared away, and that all of her things were neatly returned to her yellow backpack. Well, she thought, looking at her poorly wrapped sleeping bag, almost all of them. But then again, it's hard enough for me to fold it up, poor Rin probably had the most difficult time.
"Thank you, Rin, for putting my sleeping bag away." She smiled at the young girl as they took their normal places, side by side about ten feet back from Sesshomaru.
"Oh, that wasn't me." The young girl smiled brightly up at Kagome. "Sesshomaru-sama did it while you were healing yourself, Jaken-sama and I were too small." Kagome blinked her brown eyes in surprise. How did he do that with only one arm? She looked up ahead to where he walked, measured steps carrying him just fast enough that the group would reach their destination in a timely manner, but also just slow enough so that she and Rin did not tire too quickly. His silver hair swayed hypnotizingly in the slight breeze, and Rin had to call her name a few times to get her attention.
"Kagome!"
"Oh, yes?" Looking back down at the young girl, she noticed her to be slightly nervous about something. "Rin, is everything okay?"
"I am just wondering…" she paused a few moments, seeming to formulate her next few words. "Are you going to stay with me and Jaken-sama and Sesshomaru-sama?" She looked up to the older girl, worry shining in her brown eyes.
"As long as Sesshomaru-sama thinks that my presence is needed, yes. I will stay."
"Really?" The girl's hopeful face reminded Kagome of Shippo, her adopted son. She missed him, as well as Sango, Miroku, and her newest family, Maya, Sumi, and Kabe. Honestly, though she was still very upset at how things had turned out, she missed Inuyasha as well. I wonder how his trip to revive Kikyo is going? The thought that he may spend the rest of his life looking for a way to revive his first love made her heart clench. Geez, I can't believe I feel sorry for him! He left me for her! Again! Her impromptu anger faded as quickly as it rose. But, I can't help but want what makes him happy. I truly hope he finds a way to bring her back, but hopefully without the use of my soul this time… Why am I so nice? She let out a heaving sigh, causing Rin to glance up at her.
"Sighing makes happiness run away." The smiling girl said. She began to hum a nonsense song, and then added words. The song was about—who else?—Sesshomaru-sama. After she sang through it a few times, Kagome knew all the words and began to sing along.
Sesshomaru-sama.
He will always come for me.
Sesshomaru-sama.
He saved me from the darkness.
Sesshomaru-sama.
Jaken-sama bothers him.
Sesshomaru-sama.
He is my best friend.
"Jaken does not bother the great Sesshomaru-sama!" The toad in question cried out defensively. "And you are but a lowly human, why would the great Sesshomaru-sama be your best friend? No one is worthy of that prai—"
"Silence, Jaken."
Once again the subjugation beads took effect, immediately silencing the loudmouth servant. Ah-Un could be heard snickering behind the girls, and Jaken resumed his place halfway between them and Sesshomaru-sama. His bald green head was practically sizzling. Kagome decided to have a bit of pity on the toad, and offered to teach Rin another song to sing.
"Yes! I would like that very much!" Kagome then taught her the words to The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and the hand motions her mother had taught her. In almost no time Rin had mastered it. Together they sang,
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain.
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the spout again.
One they finished the song, Rin would yell "Again!" So the two girls would sing it again. And again. And again. An hour or two before sunset, Sesshomaru stopped and declared that they would set up camp. No longer in the forest, the Western Mountains were visible across the plains. Dinner was uneventful, the group eating some more of the food Kagome had brought back from the future. She knew that it would be best for them to eat it right away, since it would spoil eventually, and Rin made no objection so Sesshomaru allowed it. After everything was put away Rin curled up inside the sleeping bag while Kagome sighed in wonder at the colors of the sunset exploding from behind the mountains. Walking a ways away from the campsite, she found herself a somewhat comfortable place to sit and simply watched. Not long after Sesshomaru came to sit by her.
"The song you taught Rin was repetitive, miko, and had no educational value." His deep voice, so sure of himself, instantly riled her, but she fought down the rising anger, choosing instead to wait a few moments while she calmed herself. Why does the very sound of his voice bring this reaction from me? He probably enjoys seeing me frustrated. She glanced quickly over at his passive face. I can't tell for sure, but he's most likely amused, at least.
"I am afraid I must correct you, Sesshomaru-sama." She decided to try and speak the way he did, hopefully something would translate so he wouldn't underestimate her again. "First off, I would not teach Rin something that does not benefit her in some way. Secondly, the hand motions improve hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Thirdly, the meaning behind the song is to not give up even when you have been knocked down again and again." She folded her arms and resisted from adding, "So, there."
He turned to look at her, eyes narrowing a bit in curiosity. She merely cocked an eyebrow as he blinked his golden eyes at her. He turned away again.
"Very well, miko. This Sesshomaru sees the so-called "benefits" of your teachings."
She waited. When no more words came forth she coughed. Then she cleared her throat. "Ah-hem!" He blinked.
"Don't you have anything else to add?" She asked. "Like, say, an apology?"
"This Sesshomaru does not apologize."
She wasn't shocked really, but still, an apology would have been nice. "Ever?" He just turned and blinked at her again. "You know, you can say quite a few things with those blinks of yours." Another blink. "Awww, Sesshomaru-sama!" She cooed jokingly. "That's very sweet! I think that you are very interesting to talk to as well!" The look she received almost made her laugh. She could almost hear him, Miko, where you dropped as a newborn? "Well, that's enough riveting conversation for one day." She stood back up, and he did so as well. "Goodnight, Sesshomaru-sama." Taking her toiletries and extra pajamas she headed for the hot spring he had pointed out earlier.
Sesshomaru sat down against a tree, and waited for the miko's safe return. He thought back to the night before, when she had disappeared, and wondered if that would happen again. His thoughts traveled later into that night, and he began remembering how warm he was while she slept in his lap. He wondered at it, why such a simple memory haunted him so. Once the girl was back he let himself drift off to sleep.
That night he felt cold, and thought of her warmth.
Thank you for reading chapter seven of Her Chance! By now, I feel like some reader input is required. So, if you have any criticisms of what I've written, or ideas for what I have yet to write, please let me know! But, just a note: Sesshomaru has been stoic, cold, unfeeling, for the past six or seven years. He's not going to completely change into a loveable fluff-puppy in two days. Sure, he changed a bit in the three years that she was gone, but he is keeping that side to himself for reasons that will be revealed at a later date!
So, how is it coming along so far? And what would you like to see? Please read and review, and thanks again for reading!