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Chapter Seven: Damn Those Eyes
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Sesshomaru's aura was too powerful to ignore. He knew this so he decided to stay far enough from the camp so that he would not be noticed. The girl did not move to argue with him just yet, no doubt she is only waiting for the right opportunity. She left him where he stood and he carefully gauged the amount of discomfort he was subjected to. As she went, none came. This was good.
With his superhuman ears, he was able to hear the conversation going on in the camp. Sesshomaru knew that the girl would not disobey him but to make certain, he listened closely to what she told her companions.
"Sango!" his brother's wench exclaimed. "Where have you been? How did it go? What took you soo long? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." There was some shuffling. The demon lord guessed that she was retrieving her weapon. "I just have to go do something for a couple of days."
Sesshomaru scowled at her poor excuse. 'Think of a better explanation!' He purposefully let this leak to her mind.
He heard her gasp. She got the message. There was a long pause before the taijiya said, "The old demon slayer's granddaughter sent me on a mission that I must go on alone."
He was slightly impressed at the half-truth she told—only slightly.
Another voice came. This time it was masculine. "My dear Sango, why so abrupt and why must you go alone?"
"It is the dying wish of the old man, Miroku. I'm sorry but don't worry, I will return as soon as I can."
The distance was not nearly that great, however, they spoke in voices low enough for the demon lord to have to concentrate to hear everything. Sesshomaru's concentration did not break when he felt a little hand tugging at his sleeves.
"Lord Sesshomaru," she said. "Rin is bored. Can Rin go explore?"
"Take Jaken with you." He said absentmindedly, his attention still a few feet away in the camp.
He sensed her joy but paid it no mind. She was always happy. Then he vaguely heard Jaken's protesting squawks before he was unceremoniously dragged by the little girl into an "adventure".
"We can help you. What if you run into a group of demons that you cannot fight off by yourself?" The miko pleaded.
"No, Kagome, you can't." the other female replied. "It's something that I have to do alone."
This conversation was dragging on for too long. Sesshomaru was going to have to put a stop to it soon.
"Then we're just going to travel in the same direction as you are going in search of jewel shards." It was Inuyasha, the filthy half-breed. He spoke with false authority that angered the demon lord. He needed to be put in his place.
"That's not a good idea." She protested weakly.
"And why the hell not?"
"Because, I have to do this by myself."
"You are gonna be doing what ever it is you have to do by yourself. We're just going to be there doing out own thing."
"No, Inuyasha!" the girl said with finality.
'Good, this dull conversation is coming to an end.' Sesshomaru thought. Either he let that slip or the magic is more powerful than he originally estimated, he was unsure but he was caught off guard when the female reciprocated.
'If it's such a dull conversation, then why are you listening?' she said fiercely.
His eyes narrowed at her response. 'Learn your place, wench. You are never to address me in such a tone.'
'Or else what? You cannot kill me or harm me. With all due respect, my lord, you can do nothing about my insolence.' Her words held more bite in her mind than they did in person.
How dare she! He could not believe the fire he did not know she possessed. Only moments ago she was timid and terrified of him and now here she was defying him, daring him to do something for her disrespect. After he surpassed the initial shock, a corner of his mouth lifted into a mischievous grin. Sesshomaru loved women with fight. He was going to enjoy playing with this one.
'Not at the moment,' He infused as much threat in it as he could. 'But I wouldn't thank the gods for your new found immunity just yet.'
He heard her gasp.
"Sango, are you all right?" the younger girl said concerned.
"Yes," the taijiya replied slowly. "I'm fine, just—"
"Wait just a goddamn minute!" Inuyasha interrupted suddenly. "You smell kinda like… Sesshomaru!"
Silence washed over the camp. It was a wonder the boy did not smell him on the female before. Then again, the human blood that flows through him dulled his senses. He was a waste. The quite held and dragged on. The taijiya was thinking of ways to explain this but coming to no conclusion. Sesshomaru only listened to her not giving her suggestions as to what to say. He enjoyed the frantic panic she was in. It serves her right.
"Miss Kagome!" the demon lord's face broke into an expression of shock for a quick second.
Rin had found her way to the camp. He moved to get her but stopped himself. Sango would bring the child back with her. He did not want to get into a scuffle with the half-breed in front of Rin—which would be inevitable if he were to grace the unworthy creature with his presence. So, he remained where he was and paid close attention to what was going on.
"Rin!" the miko and the toad exclaimed at the same time. It was the green one that would go on. "Lord Sesshomaru would be very mad if he found out that you were here! He would have my head. Do you know what happens to disobedient little human girls? They get eaten! Lord Sesshomaru is going to eat you. Do you want to get eaten, Rin? Do you?!"
"Don't be silly Master Jaken, Lord Sesshomaru does not eat humans." She chided her caretaker.
"Rin, what are you doing here?" it was the taijiya that asked, addressing the girl for the first time that day.
"Master Jaken and I are going on an adventure!" she stated matter-of-fact.
"How cute!" the miko commented.
"Miss Pretty Lady," she said most likely to the older female. "Are your friends going to come with Rin too?"
'Stop her from saying any more!' Sesshomaru commanded. The damage was done. He raced to the direction of the camp hoping to do something about the situation. Right now he was unsure of what that course of action might be. Rin's inclusion in the discussion was completely unexpected.
"I-I… well, no…they are not…" Sango struggled to obey the demon lord's order. What was she say?
"Rin wants Miss Kagome to come with us and Shippou too!" her brows furrowed, "Rin hopes Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't mind."
Sesshomaru heard this and groaned. He would not give into her this time. There was absolutely no way his half-brother and his group would be joining them. Absolutely no way!
He broke into the clearing amidst a group of confused, shocked faces. Then he saw the little and the wretched female look at him.
The little girl was the first to speak. "Lord Sesshomaru, Rin wants Miss Kagome to come with us. Please."
"No," He said sternly.
"Please, Sesshomaru." It was the taijiya this time. Since when did she address him by his name as such? He did not like this new attitude of hers.
He met the gaze of two pairs of round, soft, chocolate brown eyes and they pleaded at full force.
"Please," both females said at the same time. Their eyes willed him to submission.
"Absolutely no way." Sesshomaru said though he knew it was a lie. He could already feel himself buckling under their control. Damn those eyes! They are not going to win this time.
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