A/N: I revised Ch.1-5 for those of you who have already read them. I apologize for my absence and while I want to give you an explanation I think you would prefer to just read Ch.7. This is my attempt to pull myself out of the severe writers block I had for this story, I hope you enjoy and I apologize for any grammatical errors.
Chapter 7
Shippou sat comfortably on Kagome's shoulder, playing idly with her hair seemingly lost in the way it fell from his little fingers like silk. In reality he was studying her profile, taking note of the shadows under her eyes that were squinted in pain and the sickly pallor of her skin. He frowned at the tiny beads of sweat that littered her forehead, that he knew had nothing to do with the natural heat around them.
The little fox wanted to order the priestess to just give in because even though he was not who they thought he was, he cared quite deeply for his pack and especially for Kagome. She was special and was the reason why he had joined the team of two in the first place and despite his ulterior motives, he could not stand to see her in such a state.
"Kagome…are you feeling okay? You don't look so good."
Kagome turned her head slightly and looked up into his big worried green eyes with a shaky smile, "I'm fine Ship, just a lot on my mind."
Shippou wrapped his little arms around her neck and sniffed, "I know I'm just a kid but I can smell lies Kagome. Please tell me the truth."
He pulled back to look into her eyes again, her tired azure gaze was filled with such weariness and pain, both physical and spiritual. For a moment guilt stabbed at Shippou's conscious but like all the times before he simply pushed the feeling away. All that he had orchestrated and allowed to happen was for the greater good and in the end he hoped she would be able to see it as he did.
"Please Kagome, if you aren't feeling well then I'm sure Kirara won't mind carrying you."
She frowned and shook her head, "I just don't know what's wrong with me. I feel like I have the flu…but I have no fever. My body aches and my head feels like it is going to split into two. I feel horrible."
Shippou hopped off her shoulder and made his way over to the tiny fire cat, whispering in her ear, "She is feeling ill, would you mind very much transforming for her?"
The neko, who knew exactly who and what Shippou was looked at him with judgmental eyes before nodding her head and within seconds was towering over him. Shippou fought not to roll his eyes in annoyance at the cat's attempt at intimidation—Kirara was quite unhappy with him. Shippou did not blame her but he had never been so grateful that the neko was unable to speak, she would have ratted him out long ago.
After Miroku helped Kagome up, Shippou made his way over to the Western Lord who though seemed to care less about what was going on behind him, the fox knew very well that Sesshoumaru was acutely aware and intensely worried. With no fear he clambered up the white fluff of the demon's mokomoko and settled quite comfortably on Sesshoumaru's shoulder, ignoring the barely audible growl that the demon lord let loose.
"Oh please, I can do so much better than that and I'm three feet tall."
"Fox, I will not allow you to play your games with me or with Kagome."
Shippou frowned, "Kagome is not a game to me…you on the other hand…"
Sesshoumaru kept his face blank as he asked, "What is your interest in her? Why have you involved yourself so deeply in her life?"
Shippou scoffed, "That is a tale that you are not quite ready for."
Sesshoumaru turned to look at the kitsune who looked much too comfortable using his mokomoko as a pillow, "I am more than ready to toss you back into whatever void you crawled out of."
Shippou's brow rose in surprise and then he let out a deep chuckle, too quiet for the others to hear but loud enough to irritate the Inuyoukai.
"You think I am a dark kitsune? Well pup, hate to break it to you but your wrong. I'm a little more complicated than that. I give you points for trying though."
Sesshoumaru growled out, his eyes narrowed in anger, "What do you want fox?"
The mocking laughter in Shippou's eyes dimmed as he turned to stare ahead, "Yes, I am a fox Sesshoumaru, so it is my natural inclination to play with the lives of others. I will tell you this only once, I have pulled the strings of the lives of my friends not for play but out of necessity. If the world was just then believe me, they would all be living out the rest of their lives in luxury never to know pain again…or death. This jewel hunt is a tiny piece of a very large puzzle and Kagome…she was brought here because she is the only one who can solve it. She won't be able to do this if she can't even walk. So though I understand you are trying to show her you need one another, perhaps you should first tell her why she is hurting so badly."
Sesshoumaru remained silent, more wary of the kitsune than he was before. Perhaps the fox was much older and powerful than he had initially believed…who was this kitsune? Was he a threat to Kagome despite his admissions of genuine affection for the miko?
"I cannot tell her…she will then feel obligated to be with this one. It was you fox who advised me to give her the choice, was it not? What kind of choice would it be if she felt as if she must be with me to keep us both from writhing on agony's doorstep?"
Shippou narrowed his eyes at the smart mouthed Inuyoukai and he remembered why foxes disliked dogs so much. "You are still young Sesshoumaru, do not think to turn my words against me. You do not yet know Kagome like I do and if you continue to remain at a distance you will continue to remain a stranger to her. She is not easily pressured dog, I can assure you that even if you share with her what she has every right to know she will not change her mind. Kagome requires affection and she will not enter a relationship without at least that, no matter how badly she hurts. After you grow a pair and tell her perhaps…oh I don't know, you might take a shot at wooing her?"
"This Sesshoumaru does not woo."
Shippou growled in annoyance, "Then this Shippou will watch from the sidelines as you fall flat on your face."
Turning away from the big demon Shippou gritted his teeth, "You are already failing as a mate by allowing her to remain ignorant. I understand that you emotionally handicapped Sesshoumaru but Kagome is a being of emotion and perhaps a grand gesture or two. Talk to her, get to know her and for Kami sake, let her know you. How do you expect her to choose you when she doesn't even know that you are a choice? Stupid dog."
With that Shippou jumped off of Sesshoumaru's shoulder and made his way over to Miroku. Damn fox.
~oOo~
They stopped at an inn that was run by an old human couple who welcomed them all, smiles for both humans and demons. Sesshoumaru gently pulled a sleeping Kagome off of the fire cats back and carried her inside.
She looked horrible, her face twisted in pain and her body drenched in sweat and Sesshoumaru was overcome with guilt. The damn fox was right…he should have told her. He carried her up the stairs to the farthest room in the hall and slid the door open with his foot, almost succeeding in closing it when an orange fluff strutted in and closed it for him.
"Get out."
"Nope."
Sesshoumaru growled, "Get out. I intend to speak to the miko and we will not have an audience."
Shippou pulled back the blanket so that Sesshoumaru could lay Kagome down and answered, "You're not talking to her now are you? She needs to rest."
"This Sesshoumaru is not a fool."
Shippou sneered, "That is debatable."
Sesshoumaru snapped his teeth, his eyes beginning to bleed red in temper. The fox was trying his last nerve and Sesshoumaru knew damn well that he was doing it on purpose, he just didn't know why.
"Your lack of patience is further proof of your youth. Kids nowadays…no respect for their elders."
"Fox."
"Dog."
Sesshoumaru fought not to let out a roar of frustration as he took in a deep breath and held it before releasing it and asking as calmly as he was able, "What do you want?"
"Just to give one bit of advice. While her choosing you will take away the pain…holding each other will ease it. Goodnight."
Sesshoumaru stared after the kitsune…who the hell was that damn fox?
~oOo~
Kagome sighed, her body still aching and her headache still present but not half as bad as it had been. She tried to move but found that her arms were pinned against her stomach…and…she looked up into sleepy golden eyes. Sesshoumaru.
Her brow furrowed and her lips parted in shock, what the heck was going on?
"Sess…homaru?"
The Inuyoukai sighed and drew her head down to rest against his collarbone, his claws scratching gently at the base of her neck. "I must tell you something Kagome but first, I wish for you to know that I am not saying this to force a decision from you."
Kagome tensed, she knew that whatever Sesshoumaru was going to tell her she was not going to like. She tried to pull away but his hold on her tightened, "Sesshoumaru?"
"My hold eases your pain."
The simple statement told Kagome that she had been right, the pain she felt had something to do with Sesshoumaru. "What did you do to me?"
Sesshoumaru stiffened and growled out, "I would never intentionally harm you…what I have done to you, you have done to me…this Sesshoumaru is simply able to handle the pain better than you."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is our bodies and souls are rebelling against your decision to deny me. I had hoped that you would choose me before it came to this but neither of us are beings of luck."
Kagome's headache was worsening, but it felt more natural…like her blood pressure was on the rise. "You mean to tell me that I feel like shit because I refuse to…be with you."
"Hn."
Kagome's eyes flared, "Yet you say that you aren't trying to force me? You telling me that this pain won't go away unless I mate with you isn't really a choice Sesshoumaru."
"You misunderstand me Kagome."
"Well if you had answered me with something more substantial that 'hn' then perhaps I would not have misunderstood. Explain with words please."
Sesshoumaru sighed and rested his chin atop her head and softly explained, "Yes, it is true that we will continue to be in pain until a decision is made…but our decision is not based on a physical mating. I admit I was wrong in not informing you about this…side effect…but I didn't want you to feel obligated to be with this Sesshoumaru to escape the pain."
Kagome was quiet and oddly touched by Sesshoumaru's admission though she felt she should be a bit angry that he didn't tell her why she hurt so badly. She understood wanting to be wanted…it was just so odd to her that it was Sesshoumaru who wanted to be wanted by her. She closed her eyes and shook her head, so very confused by all that was happening to her and torn between wanting Sesshoumaru as well and being scared that she would be betraying Inuyasha. She wondered though, did Sesshoumaru even really want her?
"Sesshoumaru?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you…do you want me because of the pain or…or for something else? Like the Tessaiga?"
It was then that Sesshoumaru understood why he needed to let her know him like Shippou had advised, albeit rudely but wisely. If she knew him then she wouldn't even think to ask such questions.
"I took notice of you long before our souls called out to one another…but I began to want you when I took it upon myself to study you from afar. I was curious as to what made you so different from other females…from youkai females that you would be chosen for me. I found that you contained many qualities that this Sesshoumaru admired and eventually desired. The Tessaiga is no longer something that I covet…there is many things that you do not know about me yet Kagome, but I would have you know this. I do not lie. So when I say that I want you because I came to the realization that there is no one who I could want than you, know that it is the truth."
A tear slid down the bridge of her nose as she listened to the demon lord who had tried to kill her on more than one occasion admit to having feelings for her. She really didn't know what to do now.
"I need time."
He sighed and closed his eyes, "Then time is what you shall have."
A/N: I know it was a long time coming, once again I am so sorry. I can tell you though I have been doing a lot of research on Kitsune's and was pleasantly surprised with how much information I found that I could play with. Kind of excited to tell you the truth. Let me know what you guys think and just a reminder, no flames. Thanks for reading!
-Inari
